“There’s this stark contrast everywhere of this red, hard ground and the vibrant greens of the coconut trees,” she said.

Adair, who is the Magoma Project leader, is working with the non-governmental, nonprofit 2Seeds Network, which focuses on food security and community development, specifically in Tanzania.

Alex Saltonstall, Adair’s project mentor, said the organization has three projects in the country, centered on finding ways to ensure the community has enough food to sustain its member throughout the year.

How that mission is accomplished is broadly up to the project leader and what he or she observes from living in the community for an extended period of time.

“It gives them a real sense of what they can accomplish if motivated and allowed to develop the ideas,” Saltonstall said. “My hope is they come back from the experience with a much wider view of what their potential is within the world.”

After living in the community since July, Adair said one of the clear objectives is to provide students at a local school with a sustaining meal each day, as well as learning agricultural strategies in a school garden.

“There’s no point in us assigning ourselves responsibility or things we won’t be there to fix,” Adair said. “Our main focus is to find people that can do a great job — people who are skilled and passionate in one area.”

It is difficult for Adair to pinpoint specific aspects of culture shock because she has adapted to the foreign environment and traditions by necessity. Although she initially was startled by the overwhelming Tanzanian hospitality, she has accepted it, but said it still takes her by surprise.

According to Tanzanian customs, Adair said if she spends the day with a farmer, she is greeted with a meal and a warm reception that is poignant each time.

“You know you don’t deserve it, but you know you will be treated that way,” she said. “You’ll be given respect and it’s an outpouring of grace.”

The relaxed pace of life in the area translates to an inconsistency in infrastructure, such as not having running water or waiting for a broken bus to be fixed.

“With patience, most situations here tend to relieve themselves and you see the beauty of working things out with other people,” she said. “While it may get frustrating, you just kind of ride it out.”

Her father, Traverse City, Mich., resident Rick Adair, said he remembers his daughter being interested in nonprofit endeavors and African culture since high school.

“She’s quite happy, so we wish her well,” he said. “We just think it’s going to strengthen her and make her a better person.”

The trip, which is her third journey to Africa, enables Kristina Adair to further her personal mission to find purpose in life.

“It’s definitely had an impact,” she said. “I love working with the people here and being inspired by their creativity.”

When she returns to the U.S. in December, Kristina Adair will have one more semester of school before she graduates and pursues a career, although she doesn’t yet have plans set.

“This is something that I profess to be passionate about and something I want to be directed toward in the future,” she said. “Why do I need to wait until I finish school?”