About
In the Gambia, West Africa, locals have a name for foreigners; they call them "Tubabs " a term derived from "two bob ", the standard fee British colonialists used to pay Gambians for odd jobs. In this film we follow a group of students from St. Mary's College in Maryland on a summerlong jaunt deep into the Gambia to study West African language and culture. The result is a story about a group of American teenagers traveling outside their comfort zones in search of adventure, knowledge, and self-discovery.
The filmmakers investigate issues surrounding modern-day colonialism, Westerner's relationship to developing countries, and the traditions of the Gambian people. The film serves as a meditation on that familiar topic, the study-abroad experience, and like any travel experience, the film is most entertaining when things go wrong. The bus breaks down, the students get lost, a mission goes awry, and the very moments that are the most awful at the time end up being the most memorable. Anyone who spent time overseas during college or high school will see a reminder of their travels and recall a bit of the Tubab in themselves.
Suitable for preparation for any fieldwork or travel abroad experience where the goal is to foster awareness and cross-cultural understanding. The film shows the timeless value of experiencing another culture first hand.
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352 - Tubabs in Africa - Study Guide
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