Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Great adventure Past Review

By (N/A) - abroad from 06/15/2018 to 07/05/2018 with

Broadreach: Program At Sea - Caribbean Marine Biology Voyage

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained a new passion for scuba diving, and a budding interest in photography. I also got to meet people who were working in the field I would like to go into (biology), and make new friends.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The marine biologist on our boat was a phenomenal teacher. She tailored the course to our learning needs and ability, and incorporated lessons into snorkeling adventures :)

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The staff at the Pad did a good job of organizing the boats and making sure we had all of the supplies we needed throughout the trip.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The boat was very nice! The cabins were small, but most of us preferred to sleep under the stars anyways (which was an amazing experience).

* Food:

For the resources we had, the food was pretty good! Lots of pasta/stir fry/etc. so it was tasty and filling. I'm not a picky eater, and I was very happy with what was provided. Pickier eaters on our boat did have a bit of a tough time (mostly people who wouldn't eat vegetables at all), but there was always the option of fruit, a sandwich, or ramen.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

We did not spend a ton of time on land, but we did get to know the locals a little bit through service projects we did in Statia and Saba! That was a lot of fun.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Health care is great on this trip. Any cuts/scrapes were taken care of immediately, and our instructors made a huge point of keeping the boat clean and preventing infections/illness. The same goes for any other injuries - one of the students on our program experienced a mild mask squeeze and was promptly taken care of (he was just fine and back in the water the next day). I was very impressed by the professional way the situation was handled.

* Safety:

I felt very safe the whole trip. I think Broadreach goes above and beyond in terms of safety. However, there is always going to be one person that does something stupid. Don't anger wildlife or disregard safety instructions and this trip is extremely safe.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

The instructors were phenomenal, I enjoyed the coursework, and the diving was absolutely amazing!

Finances

* 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)

You do not need to spend a lot of money on this trip at all!!

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $15-20
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? -If you are going to buy souvenirs, save up for the glass shop! -When buying snacks on land, pool money together with your friends and stock up on things everyone can benefit from (jam, Nutella, etc.)

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

You could use some French on certain islands, but most people spoke English that we interacted with

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Beginner
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Beginner
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? High School French 3
How many hours per day did you use the language? 0
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? I would not consider this a language enrichment trip

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Other
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The scuba diving!
  • Getting to know everyone on the boat
  • The coursework
* What could be improved?
  • More time hiking the islands/interacting with locals
  • A four week program instead of three weeks
  • More time on Saba at the marine park!
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Bring some paperback books, board games, cards, etc. for entertainment on the long sails :)

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 Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!