Journey to Myself Past Review
By A student (Media Arts and Sciences, Wellesley College) - abroad from 07/11/2018 to 11/17/2019 with
CIEE: Cape Town - Arts and Sciences
I learned a lot about myself and what it means to be a black person in western spaces. It was also so great to be in a place where the curriculum is afro centered and the faculty black. It was worth it.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Very hard and intensive. You definitely invest as much time and effort as you do at some of the top American universities. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Health care is super cheap in SA compared to the US, and the program makes sure you have a health insurance that will fully or partially cover most of your health issues |
| * Safety: |
Cape Town is a very unsafe place. You really have to be very careful by avoiding walking at night alone, or going to places where you don't know anyone. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
It was a wonderful place and time for me, as a black African woman to be in my senior year. |
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 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 50$ |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Avoid take outs. Shop at the cheap grocery stores (e.g Pick N Pay) |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| 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? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I wish I knew how difficult it would be for me to exist and live in a space where I am considered as not African enough because of the program I belong to, and too African in the program because I cannot fully relate to the American experience as a non-American citizen. |
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 LinguistYou 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! |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
AXL1201S |
| Course Department: | Africana Studies |
| Instructor: | Harry Garuba |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | The course was very interesting and was very complimentary to my South African experiences. It helped me understand in depth relations of race and class in Cape Town which is very linked to the history and geography of the city. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | No |
