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"Botswana: Boring but Invigorating"
Interstudy: Gaborone - University of Botswana
Program Information
The University of Botswana (UB) was established with help from the “One Man One Beast” campaign, which raised money from the people of Botswana in the form of cash, cattle, grain, eggs and other unique contributions. UB has four campuses: two in the capital city Gaborone, one in Francistown, and another in Mau... More
| Provider: | Interstudy |
| Location(s): | Gaborone, Botswana |
| Year Founded: | 1980 |
| Website | Take me there! |
Review By:
Jeremy H. (Geography and Environmental Studies, Towson University) on January 13, 2012
Overall Rating
Review Photos
Personal Information
| * Start Date: | 2011-07-21 |
| * End Date: | 2011-11-28 |
| 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 had group presentations in almost any class, and if you want to give a presentation anywhere resembling quality work, be prepared to do all the work yourself. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I had a fantastic student mentor who helped us in the program get acclimated as well as make friends. |
| * Housing: |
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| * Food: |
Don't expect anything special, but food on campus is cheap and will fill up the average person. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I helped with a girls soccer team the whole semester, and that was the most rewarding experience of my life so far. Get involved with something, anything. I personally believe that building relationships is the most important aspect of studying abroad. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I did not have any issues with having anything stolen. However, many other Americans had cell phones, cameras, and wallets stolen. From the stories I heard, they were honestly being careless. Botswana is a very safe place, so if you have your wits about you, you will be fine. I had malaria pills for a trip north prescribed for me in the states, but other students had no trouble getting the pills in Botswana. |
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* Home Institution Advising:
How well did Towson University 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? | Build some kind of budget. Walk when you don't need to take public transport, save money when you can, and use it on trips. |
Language
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * If you could do it all over again, would you choose the same program? | Yes |
| * What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile? | I understand, to a degree, the potential for new businesses going into Africa which interests me a lot. |