SFS Turks and Caicos: An Experience You'll Never Forget! Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I found the professors and class material very engaging. Most of the studying came very easily since it was such a passion to the majority of the students there. This also made the material very easy to learn. I found the two week research project during the final weeks of the semester there to be the most rewarding. You not only gain research experience in the field, but get to write a full scale research paper and present to your fellow classmates as well as the public. I found this gave me a great taste of what to expect for when it came time to do my senior thesis.

On-site administration of your program

During my time at SFS, they had just introduced a new program director, and we were his first semester. Coming from a background of going to boarding school and a small college, I have to say I held him to pretty high standards since the whole campus population including staff was under 50. I found him to be distant from the students and you could feel tension with him and other faculty members. I feel if he actually made an effort to be more involved with the students it would have made my experience even more memorable. BUT, There is now a new program director who was one of my favorite professors and my directed research project head. Wish he was in charge when I was there!

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Housing was great, the school (refurbished old hotel) is on a bluff overlooking one of the most beautiful ocean views I have ever seen! There are 4 to a room each with its own bathroom, which are pretty small but living on an island with coral reefs right off the dock, the only time I spent in the room was to sleep. It's all open air, only room with air conditioning is the computer room. From everywhere on campus you you can see the ocean. Fresh water is limited, so expect to take your showers and do any laundry in the ocean. All the freshwater comes from a rain catchment system on the whole island so only one fresh water shower a week (no hot water). The only item I would definitely pack is a good mosquito net! They are brutal towards the end of the summer months!

The food was good at best. Lots of pasta, beans, tacos, and tuna fish. ALL food is shipped from the main land every two weeks, so towards the end of the two week period the number of options drops pretty significantly. But there is always Peanut Butter and Jelly and cereal. Do not expect to eat fish, which I was very surprised by living on an island. In town there are some very small restaurants -- very good fried chicken, goat and once and a while a spiny lobster!

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The social aspects remind me a lot of going to summer camp. There were only 30 students on my trip, and many of which broke into several cliques. We all would go out on the weekends to the local bar down the street, drink, dance and socialize with some of the locals. The island is very small, and while we were there, unfortunately our program director did not facilitate many community activities so it was hard to really intermix with the locals and get a true feel for the culture aside from what we saw at night. There is a curfew so expect to be home by 12.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Health issues were discussed, our first day there we were told of a previous incident that involved a local and a student which turned violent and warned us of the consequences of getting involved with locals (not really how you want to start your trip but advice none the less). Otherwise, on island there was a small walk in clinic but if you really ever needed a true medical facility you would have to fly to one of the main islands, Provo or Grand Turk where the Hospital was. The island felt overall pretty safe, there are a group of locals who are a bit rough around the edges and are involved in illegal activities (as you'll find anywhere you go), this is a big reason we have a curfew and are asked to leave campus in pairs at night, but overall we all felt very safe. But, it's all a matter of common sense and not putting yourself in a situation you don't feel comfortable in.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

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• Dorm

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• Americans