Program Overview
I was allowed to substitute my international research experience in Uganda this past summer for the CFAES Global Option culture/language course requirement, which is why you see a specific section devoted fully to my international research. I am an honors student here at Ohio State. As a part of my honors program, I was required to conduct a research project. Since I am interested in international agricultural development, I wanted my research project to be based internationally. During my sophomore year, my forages professor introduced me to Dr. Elly Sabiiti, a visiting Fulbright scholar from Uganda. Dr. Sabiiti ended up inviting me to come to Uganda with him sometime. A year later, I found myself writing a proposal for my research project that would be in Uganda under Dr. Sabiiti. I ended up getting two grants to fully fund my research in Uganda, which focused on smallholder, urban dairy farmers. I interviewed 10 different farmers on their management practices including feed information, cow information, milk marketing, challenges, etc. I was in Uganda for 2 and a half months. When I was in Uganda, I lived at the agricultural research center of the main university there, Makerere University.
Conducting a research interview of dairy farmer Foster
Pre-Departure Reflection
Preparing to go to Uganda was hard. I was extremely excited, but also so terrified at the same time. I did not know many of the details around the logistics of my research or room and board before I left, which was scary. I also was trying to write a survey without any survey experience or any context as to what the tiny dairy farms would actually be like.
While Abroad Reflection
My first few days alone in Uganda were filled with a lot of fear and loneliness. It is very hard being in a different country across the globe from your family. However, I soon became used to Uganda and my living situation. In fact, I loved living at the hostel on the agricultural research center. I lived with African graduate students at the hostel and some of the graduate students became my best friends. They took care of me and did their best to show me Kampala and Uganda. They supported me and answered all of my confusing questions.
Research in a developing country is hard. Things move at a much slower pace than in the United States. However, this research is worth it. There is so much more research to be done in developing countries! Throughout my interviews, I was continually amazed at the farmer’s strength and endurance. Some of the farmers had very difficult stories. And yet they still persisted and did not give up. The farmers that I interviewed became an inspiration to me.
Dairy cow eating grass out of an old bathtub
After Return Reflection
Returning home after spending the summer in Uganda was extremely hard. I went through reverse culture shock after I came home. Honestly, I did not want to come home from Uganda. I missed my simple life there and my amazing friends. It was hard to be in such an individualistic and materialistic culture once again. I remember messaging my mom in the airport and telling her that I felt dead inside because of having to leave my friend Nada behind in Uganda.
Not a day goes by that I do not think about Uganda. I long to go back sometime soon. However, for right now my place is here in the U.S., and I need to learn how to better be thankful for that time as well. Looking back on my research project, there are definitely some things that I would change now. However, that is okay…I believe the point of undergraduate research is to learn and not for it to be perfect!
Uganda, hopefully I will visit again one day soon! Webale nyo nyo.
My friend Nada and I