Reflections

When given our new research topic about climate change and environmental issues in Zambia it was expected that the research process would be immense and require in-depth analysis of the literature found. Therefore when conducting research it was no surprise when I was reading hundreds of pages of environmental policies from the international and national level of Zambia. The process required a lot of filtering of information that specifically applied to Zambia and its environmental problems and future projects. Even after conducting our final presentation it is clear to see that there is still work to be done. This includes coordinating with our organizations to know what exactly to focus on and in which ways they will like us to aid in their efforts involving the effects of climate change in  Zambia. Being that many of our organizations focus on aiding vulnerable populations in Zambia such as people living in rural areas, people of low socioeconomic class and increasing the rights of women, the research we have conducted so far can be utilized in helping these organizations take on more environmentally oriented problems. This could be raising awareness about climate change in rural populations where safeguarding the longevity of the environment may not be their immediate concerns. Also collecting and compiling data on the environmental efforts in Zambia into one place, making information readily accessible for organizations who decide to take on more environmental issues. Therefore when arriving in country many of our goals include contacting many stakeholders including government departments and organizations that were not accessible online. By doing so my research partner and I will get a better understanding of current projects and initiatives in place to tackle climate change allowing us to analyze the effectiveness of these projects and if it affects vulnerable populations our organizations represent.

Reflecting on my personal learning goals many have them have remained the same. However, due to my research topic, I will be broadening my perspective on public health initiatives to include environmental issues. Many of my public health classes here at Cornell discuss the importance of the one health model which encompasses the health of people, the health of animals and the health of the environment. Therefore I hope to be able to apply this knowledge to my research in Zambia. In addition, my personal goals included being adventurous and stepping out of my comfort zone. I hope to make great efforts in achieving this goal while in country so that I could truly make the most of my time in Zambia, whether it's trying a new dish, or striking conversations with new people. During my time in the departure course, I have started with the goal of connecting with peers. From the multiple coffee talks, working with my research partner, coordinating with my housemate in my homestay, and discussions during class I believe a level of comfortability has been built. I hope that we will continue to grow as a group while in country too.

All in all, the fact that I will be staying in a new country for two months without my family, doing research in my desired field, and creating new experiences is both exhilarating and also nerve-racking. However, to be honest, it still hasn’t hit me yet that I’ll be spending my whole summer in a new hemisphere of the world. Hopefully, it hits when they are stamping my passport at JFK airport on June 2nd.