Zambia Cross- Cultural Seminar
May 2012
INFORMATION SHEET
This cross-cultural is a joint venture between Eastern Mennonite University and
Messiah College to Zambia, Africa. Students will learn from a variety of community
members at Macha Hospital the challenges and highlights of life in Zambia. The group
will explore the unique approaches to meeting the health, educational, business, social,
and religious needs of life in southern Africa.
OBJECTIVES
By the end of the cross-cultural students will be able to:
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Articulate how people in African cultures perceive the world and interpret reality;
Describe cultural traditions & practices;
Analyze one’s experience living and interacting in a culture different than their
own through reflective journaling;
Demonstrate through writing, understanding of community and global issues as
well as the paradoxes and values impacting the people of Zambia, specific to the
student’s area of interest;
Develop a sense of cultural humility;
Reflect on personal cultural and faith beliefs as a result of immersion in the
Zambian culture.
PROJECTED SCHEDULE
Sun
Mon
Tues
Wed
Thurs
Fri
Sat
May 12
Lv Dulles
13
Travel via
London
20
Church
14
15
Arrive in
Livingstone,
Zambia –
Stay at
youth
hostel
Travel to
Macha –
settle in &
tour
21
22
Vocational
service
assignment
---------
27
28
29
Local home
stay &
church
Lv Macha to
L’stone
Chobe
Game Park
16
Market
tours
Visit
mission
hospital
17
Guest
speakers

History

Religion

Others
TBD
18
Other Guest
Lecturers
 Education
 Comm Dev
 Malaria
Rsch
19
Rounds at
Hospital
? Time w/
youth
groups
23
24
25
26
----------
-----------
--------------
Local home stay
Local home
stay
30
31
June 1
2
Chobe?
Victoria
Falls
Lv for USA
Arrive
home
SIGNIFICANT EVENTS
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
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Spend in-depth time with Macha community leaders related to one’s major;
Interact with youth and others related to local congregations;
Visit Victoria Falls and Chobe Game Park
Home stays with local families
Tour MIAM malaria research center & Macha Mission Hospital
Regular group debriefings, worship, and relaxing group activities.
EXPECTATIONS & EVALUATION
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
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Active participation in group activities, service assignments, & home visit;
Reflective journaling;
Participant observer/synthesis paper (6-8 pages);
Ethnographic interview;
SIGNIFICANT READINGS & WEBSITES
A Brief History of Zambia (copy to be made available on Moodle/Sakai.)
Hess, J. Daniel (1997). Studying abroad/learning abroad: An abridged version of The
whole world guide to intercultural learning. Boston: Intercultural Press.
Lanier, S.A. (2000). Foreign to familiar. Hagerstown, MD: McDougal Publishing.
Storti, C. (2007). The art of crossing cultures (3rd ed.). Boston: Intercultural Press
Macha Hospital:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macha_Mission
Malaria Institute at Macha (MIAM):
http://www.machamalaria.org
Travel guide to Zambia:
http://goafrica.about.com/od/zambia/Travel_Guide_to_Zambia_Southern_Africa.htm
News from Zambia: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14112449
TIMELINE
October
Monday, Nov 7
November 21
December 10:
Feb, 2012:
Spring semester:
Messiah applications distributed
Applications due
Student selections announced
$200 deposit due
Travel forms completed
3 orientation sessions; Facebook