After a Stay in Tanzania: Reflecting on One’s Own Experiences
Tenth-graders visit an exhibition about Marburg’s sister city, Moshi, with their teacher, María Ramos
On June 12, María Ramos and the students from Steinmühle—who had spent eight weeks in Tanzania earlier this year—visited the photo exhibition on Moshi at Galerie Haspelstraße eins.
Seeing these familiar images stirred up emotions that led to comments such as “Recognition, familiarity, nostalgia—that’s just Tanzania.” Viewing the exhibits gave them an opportunity to reflect on their own experiences.
The students talk about the projects they took part in at the One World School Kilimanjaro. They had been staying there—at Steinmühle’s partner school—during their time there. Now they’re experts on German-Tanzanian history, with a focus on colonization.
Every project should culminate in a creative product. Whether skulls made of clay or African masks, or fossil reproductions—everything should also serve as inspiration for other schools, for the Tanzanian audience and listeners of these presentations—but also for German politicians such as Deputy Foreign Minister Katja Keul, who was currently paying an official visit to Tanzania.
During a reflection session held in conjunction with the exhibition, the students shared what they had brought back to Germany from Tanzania in their “suitcases”:
“You learn to be grateful, even though the experience was also wonderful.”
“I’ve discovered something new about myself—just how adaptable I am.”
“I now have a realistic picture of Africa that isn’t portrayed in the media.”
“We have too many things; material possessions aren’t that important.”
“Spending the day without media wasn’t bad at all; on the contrary, we talked so much with each other.”
“It was an adjustment, a challenge, but the experience was worth it.”
These were the words of our participants, all of whom grew a little through this experience.
We look forward to welcoming new generations of students who would also like to have this experience so they can return with “a suitcase full of memories.” Future 10th graders interested in a trip to Tanzania should contact María Ramos or Principal Björn Gemmer.
(María Ramos)
