Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

CGE Namibia: An amazing experience I will never forget and always miss Past Review

By (IDSC, Clark University) for

CGEE: Windhoek - Nation-Building, Globalization, and Decolonizing the Mind

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I'm not much of a cry-er. I haven't cried in years but I cried when I had to say goodbye to namibia and all the friends I made there. I would do it again in a heartbeat; I would do it again now. It really changed a lot of the ways I view the world and helped me grow as a person.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I think the workload was fair and the program was academically unique. Besides in one class that had a different method of teaching I didn't always enjoy, I really enjoyed the academic experience here and I think I got a lot out of it. I learned a great deal and the program opened my mind up to things I hadn't thought of before, despite believing I was a pretty open-minded person already. The program included a lot of interesting speakers and learning outside the classroom as well, which were both interesting and helpful.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

They were wonderful, and after going abroad the next semester as well to a different country, I am now fully able to appreciate exactly how helpful the administers were. They were knowledgeable, helpful, and overall wonderful.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

Great in dealing with the fact I was vegetarian. it was occasionally repetitive but overall good food.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Everything was so wonderful i don't even know where to begin. We experienced so much in only a short period of time and I loved every moment.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

Despite rumors about Namibia being potentially dangerous, I felt very safe there. The program advisers were helpful and made sure our safety was top priority.

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

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)

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition?

Language acquisition improvement?

I only gave 3 stars because we had a short period of time to learn as much Oshiwambo as possible before the homestays. It was very informative, just not a major part of the program.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
  • Other
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
  • Host Family

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The people, both students and professors who were very helpful, as well as local people i met. Namibians are fantastic and really friendly
  • All the trips we went on, and the rural homestays in the north
  • The extra learning experiences outside the classroom from speakers to fieldtrips
* What could be improved?
  • Privacy and alone time in that 4 month period was pretty hard to get, but what can you do, only so many rooms in that house
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Do it. Don't think too hard about what could go wrong or if you'll enjoy it, it's all worth it. Any outgoing open-minded student would love this program. Namibia is a beautiful country with so much history and culture and chances to learn and explore. If you go on this program, you will regret nothing (except maybe not bringing more sunblock).