less than desired education and horrible living conditions Past Review
By Deena K (Environmental Studies., Brandeis University) - abroad from 10/09/2012 to 01/17/2013 with
Arava Institute for Environmental Studies: Hevel Eilot - Study Abroad in Israel
Some classes were worth while, I learned about Israel and Palestine more. It was not worthwhile though.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
low academic rigor, courses cancelled and not many offered to begin with, easy grading for some courses, little English knowledge needed even though it is an English program |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
terrible, child-like power hungry uneducated people merely appointed to positions that they have not raining or experience in |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
moved us around 4 times to different housing, moved students into a construction zone for the last 2 months where their personal property was destroyed and they were exposed to hazardous building materials, |
| * Food: |
terrible, known to have worst food in the area, burnt white rice served as main course for dinner many times |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
students are kept separate from kibbutz culture and not given many opportunities to travel outside the Negev |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $1000 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | exchange money in the country not before for better rates |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | lack of courses offered, poor housing and food conditions, distance and difficulty to travel |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
