A humbling experience in Guatemala that changed my worldview Past Review
By Matt S (PSYCHOLOGY., Cardinal Stritch University) for
Cardinal Stritch University (CSU): Guatemala City - Universidad del Valle
I gained an appreciation for the diversity that permeates our human race and the security we have here in the U.S. My communication skills in Spanish improved, and I feel more comfortable employing it in future academic and professional endeavors.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
There was minimal to no emphasis on writing from the host university. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Our daily schedule was often vague and we often didn't follow the intinerary, but our faculty and host faculty were very helpful in encouraging us to have a unique and meaningful experience. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Internet didn't work, there was no heating for the cold nights, and the bathrooms had a foul odor. But they did clean our building on a semi-regular basis and do our laundry for us. |
| * Food: |
The menu got repetetive and the portions were often small, but the food was for the most part prepared well and with obvious care. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I learned a lot from the local culture in Solola, and the weekend excursions were very valuable, memorable, and fun. They could have perhaps just been a little more structured. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I personally didn't get any vaccines, but I did take Malaria pills. You have to be very careful with what you eat and drink there, and common sense dictates how safe your trip will be, although it is impossible to be truly safe there. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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? | Shop around for a while before buying anything. Would have been nice to know how much we had to spend on weekend meals ahead of time. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
Outside of the host school, minimal English was spoken. Nearly every interaction I had provided a chance to practice and improve my Spanish. |
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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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Be prepared to go outside of your comfort zone and don't come home wishing you would have done/tried something that you had the chance to. |
