All St. Lawrence students are required to attend a series of orientation meetings
on campus prior to their departure. Both St. Lawrence and non-St. Lawrence
students will receive written material that includes information covered in
the orientation meetings. Topics covered in the orientation meetings and printed
information include medical requirements, health and safety issues, cultural
adjustment, Kiswahili phrases, the program's structure and calendar flight
and arrival information, and a suggested packing list. Parents will receive
a copy of the orientation handbook.
Once in Kenya, all students participate in an intensive orientation program designed to prepare them for their initial experiences in Kenya and to get acquainted with the other participants. They receive an in-depth introduction to conversational Swahili and discuss a number of the critical issues facing contemporary Kenya. Faculty and classes are introduced, as well as the overall focus and emphasis of the Kenya Semester. Special attention is given to orienting students to the dynamics of rural agricultural Kenyan society and the practicalities of living in that environment. Immediately following orientation, in a total cultural immersion situation, each student will live, individually, with an agricultural family for one week.