Rough Start but Fell in Love with Cape Town! Past Review

By (Anthropology and International Global Studies, Brandeis University) - abroad from 07/08/2014 to 11/14/2014 with

CIEE: Cape Town - Arts and Sciences

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned that even though it might take a while to get used to a completely new place, it really is in your best interest to go out and explore and make new friends. Studying in Cape Town was definitely worthwhile and I only wish I had stepped out of my comfort zone and started exploring earlier.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Classes at UCT were not more difficult than courses at my home university, but I felt like a freshman all over again trying to get used to differences in another university, such as different grading percentages, handing essays in department offices (as opposed to online submissions), using a separate email account for class and announcements, having tutorials, less interaction with professors, etc. UCT professors and teaching assistants were generally very helpful in explaining these differences and were understanding of new students.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The Cape Town CIEE office was incredibly helpful and supportive. I can't say enough how wonderful the Cape Town CIEE staff is. They are also reachable and are always quick to respond to any questions, concerns, and emergencies. They were incredibly helpful in cultural immersion and adjusting.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

My program arranged for me to do a homestay with a South African family. I loved my experience with my homestay parents. It was definitely a different experience from staying in a dorm with other American students. It was definitely nice to live with parents and have home-cooked food and a room of my own. Living with a South African family really made me feel like I lived in South Africa and made me feel like more of an insider than an outsider.

* Food:

Since I stayed with a family, the food was always great. My host mom was a great cook and baker so there was always good food. Otherwise, I would usually eat lunch on campus and it was really great that everything is so much cheaper than in the US. There's also such a great variety of food in Cape Town and a lot of nice cafes, all for much lower prices. The only downside in food would be that there isn't a big variety of cereals as there are in the US and the cereals available aren't as good as those in the US (in my opinion).

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt pretty integrated. I usually explored alone so I felt more like a local than a visiting student and I didn't stand out as a tourist because I didn't hang out in big groups.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I didn't have many incidents, but during my first couple of days, I had a severe allergic reaction and one of my program advisers drove me to the pharmacy where I was able to buy medicine. The doctor at the pharmacy gave me medication immediately at no charge.

* Safety:

Everyone will tell you upon arriving in Cape Town that you have to be wary of pickpockets and robbers and you constantly hear about armed robberies on and around campus. You'll also be told to be careful when taking minibus taxis because some of them are fakes. But I really think safety in Cape Town really depends on what you look like, who you walk around with, and where you are. If you're white and hang around with other (white) people who are clearly America, you're a larger target and attract more attention, but you might have safety in numbers if you're in a large group. If you're a white guy travelling alone or with one other person who's not black, you have a higher chance of getting robbed. If you're black, Indian, or mixed and you travel alone or with other people of the same race, you can probably blend in and will be less noticeable. If you're an Asian woman, you'll be bombarded with unwanted attention because you're a "rare find", but guys will be so busy staring or trying to get your number/name or chat with you that they won't even think about robbing you. If you're an Asian guy, you have a higher chance of being robbed. Over all, it's best not to listen to you ipod in public or be obviously carrying expensive items and there are certain neighborhoods to avoid walking alone or in small groups in. It was actually really stressful living in Cape Town for the first two months because I was so paranoid about being robbed or assaulted, but I later started to feel safer and was confident walking alone, but that was largely because of what I mentioned above about Asian women.

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)

Cape Town food prices are a lot cheaper compared to US prices so it's relatively easy to get by on a student's budget even if you're not particularly frugal. I lived in a homestay so I was provided three meals a day by my family, but I would usually have lunch on campus five times a week and then eat out on the weekends and I still didn't spend more than $50 USD on a normal week for food.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? About $35-40 USD
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? If you're in Cape Town for a semester or a year, get a Woolworth's card. You'll end up going there a lot anyways so you might as well get a savings card. Take mini bus taxis instead of private cabs as long as the sun's still out because they're unbelievably cheap and will save you a lot of money. I really can't stress this enough; take. mini. bus. taxis. If you're shopping at a market, bargain. Don't be afraid to offer half the price but don't act like a snobby tourist. Be polite, but never take the given price. Make local friends. They can probably teach you the ins and outs of saving money. Travel in groups when taking private cabs to far-away locations. Use the Jammie Shuttle to get places. They cover a really large distance and even though they might take longer than other modes of transportation, it's free and it's safe and they run from early in the morning to late at night!

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • International Students
  • Host Family
* 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? 10+

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • CIEE Staff
  • Host Family
  • Cultural Programs with RA's
* What could be improved?
  • More Emphasis on Service Learning
  • Making Homestay Students feel more involved
  • Clearer Communication about Activities
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I had done more research on Cape Town before getting there. I really didn't know anything about Cape Town and it would've helped to have specific places or activities to look forward to doing and seeing. I also wish someone would have told me to get a Woolworth's card at the beginning--I probably would've saved more money--and I wish someone told me that taking the mini bus taxis is completely safe and totally cheaper than taking a private cab.

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 Blazer
Craving 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.'