please share any thoughts that may help next year's students, or that you simply think are valuable for us to know about your travel, your project, and the entire experience. It's anonymous!
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wish we'd brought more gifts for children
we were surprised at how many requests for money we got--even from people associated with the host organization. be prepared to respond to such requests.
comfortable shoes--lots of muddy or rocky paths!
skirt for women--more often than not women dress modestly and in skirts
SIM cards: buy at the airport upon arrival (ask as soon as you exit customs).
Get the market leader brand, it makes a big difference in some countries (e.g. easy to transfer minutes and money in Kenya if you're on Safaricom).
When you first arrive buy the largest possible voucher for mobile minutes: the per-minute charge is much, much lower if you buy larger denominations
shake hands, err on the side of being more formal in your greeting
take time to say hello, ask how people are, etc
esp. in rural Africa: know that you'll be in a poor community--consider running a clothes drive or similar before you leve to bring along things you can give to the community
books, magazines also make great gifts
mini soap bars come in handy