Riley Mummah

Riley studied in Tanzania on the Arusha, Tanzania: Biology of Eco-Health Program during the Summer of 2014.

If you could give only one reason, why would you suggest other students study abroad?

Growth. You will grow as a person in your views, opinions, experiences, and you will be all the better for it.

If you could go abroad again, what would you do differently?

I would stay longer. I loved Tanzania, but the short three weeks that I was there was not long enough to experience everything the area had to offer. I would also try to do research abroad. I had a limited opportunity to do some research, but would have loved to expand my work into a semester-long project.

What specific factors influenced your decision to go abroad?

I have always wanted to travel. I went to Europe when I was in high school, and it sparked my love for exploring new places. Tanzania drew me in because it’s so exotic compared to Europe or Australia.

What concerns/fears did you have about studying abroad, and how did you overcome them?

I wasn’t really worried about traveling. Generally, I’m pretty comfortable traveling to new places, but that doesn’t mean that I jump right in. I definitely learned all I could about the area and the program, bought the gear I would need, and prepared my family for my absence. My family was definitely more concerned than I was. Putting your parents’ minds at ease is the most difficult part of traveling in college. You just need to give them all of the information they need to feel comfortable.

What was it about your program specifically that fit your personal goals over other programs?

This program combined travel (i.e. tourism) and science. We lived on a reserve for a week and collected some measurements to aid in a few long-term datasets about the region, but the final two weeks we traveled on a safari around northern Tanzania. This combination gave me exposure to two attractive qualities of Tanzania.

How have you used the skills you learned abroad now that you are back; either in job searching, or in other activities?

I learned how to create a family while I studied abroad. When we were there, we went on a semi-perilous hike on the side of a cliff in very windy weather. We all had to depend on each other to make it through. From this experience among others, we created a family while we were there. We became a group of people that depended upon and respected each other. It was a great feeling to have.

What experiences did you have while studying abroad that you feel you could not have had if you had stayed at Penn State?

The entire experience. You don’t go on a safari in the United States. You don’t butcher and roast a goat over an open fire in the United States. You could never experience what Tanzania has to offer here at Penn State.

What advice would you give to outbound study abroad students to help them make the most out of their study abroad experiences?

TRY EVERYTHING! If it’s safe, try it. If there’s some risk, try it! You will only regret not stepping out of your comfort zone.