Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Interesting, fun, but very different Past Review

By (ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE/LETTERS., Wellesley College) - abroad from 01/24/2012 to 06/09/2012 with

CIEE: Cape Town - Arts and Sciences

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned a lot about another city.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I had a trip to the hospital in the middle of the night (extreme abdominal pain), and my program handled it very well. The hospital was great.

* Safety:

Not exactly safe, but easily handled if you act intelligently. Lots of people were stolen from but the program had a transport for us at night and cabs were not too expensive and very easily accessible.

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)

I could have spent less, but I went out a lot and didn't act as frugally as I usually do at school.

* Was housing included in your program cost? Yes
* Was food included in your program cost? No
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $120
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Try to convince your friends they want to cook at the house.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Other
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
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?
  • Living in the house with Americans and a South African.
  • The food in Cape Town is great.
  • I had one very good Shakespeare class and a great professor.
* What could be improved?
  • More sports events.
  • The kids should drink less.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? More South African History.