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South Africa - My Invaluable Experience
AIFS: Stellenbosch - Stellenbosch University
Program Information
Attend courses with more than 400 international students from other African countries and around the world. Study art, history, literature, political science, service learning, African studies and more during a semester or year abroad with AIFS in Stellenbosch, South Africa. By including your tuition, housing,... More
| Provider: | AIFS |
| Location(s): | Stellenbosch, South Africa |
| Year Founded: | 1964 |
| Website | Take me there! |
Review By:
Jeffrey A. (Global Studies, Providence College) on October 13, 2010
Overall Rating
Review Photos
Personal Information
| * Start Date: | 2010-01-17 |
| * End Date: | 2010-06-04 |
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I really can't have asked to learn as much valuable information that I will carry with myself throughout life as I did in the AIFS Stellenbosch program. To me, that's what studying abroad is really about. My time in South Africa absolutely exceeded my expectations! |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
AIFS Stellenbosch has a wonderful staff that is always friendly, there to help you, and is more than that, they become your family. It was always easy to find a shoulder to cry on if it was needed and they always showed love and respect for all students in the program no matter what. |
| * Housing: |
It would have been great to be surrounded by more South Africa students. However, we did have the opportunity to meet people from all over Africa and Europe, which was a nice touch. There was really an over-concentration of America students in the dorms though. |
| * Food: |
The food was inexpensive and very fresh and was always good whether I bought it at a restaurant or made it myself from the grocery store. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
excellent |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Felt relatively safe. SA can be dangerous but so can any place - sommon sense is a must. |
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* Home Institution Advising:
How well did Providence College prepare and support you for your time abroad? |
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Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Shipping costs wew outrageous. |
Language
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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A Look Back
| * If you could do it all over again, would you choose the same program? | Yes |
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Pack for multiple seasons. Get out of Stellenbosch as much as you can (hire a car, or even split buying one for the semester). Bring enough money to do all the great tings that there are to offer. Make sure you interract with the indigenous populations, they will teach you the best lessons. |
| * What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile? | Very Worthwile, I've pretty much stated it all in previous answers at this point. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Learning For Sustainable Community Engagement |
| Course Department: | International |
| Instructor: | Grant Demas |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | This has been the most amazing course that I have ever taken. I honestly think that it is safe to say that is has been THE most valuable experience of my life as well. It has tryuly given shape to my human spirit in a way that no other course has ever even come close to. I absolutely recommend it to anyone - their abroad experience somply won't be complete without it. For the rating below, there really ought to be an option for ten globes, because this course would certainly be a straight ten. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |