Absolutely Amazing, Life Changing, Indescribable Past Review

By (PSYCHOLOGY., Clark University - Worcester) - abroad from 01/22/2013 to 06/08/2013 with

CIEE: Cape Town - Service Learning

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I could go on and on and on. It was worthwhile. It was the best 5 months of my life by far, I wish I could do it all over again!

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.

Courses were relevant and engaging for the most part. One frustrating thing was most of the course work was during the final month when we really wanted to get out and explore not sit at home and do work!

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The Cape Town CIEE staff was amazing and always there whether it be personal or academic problems. They made it a home away from home.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

We had a great house and all had our own rooms! Very comfortable living - really felt like a home!

* Food:

Cooked for ourselves, had a great kitchen. If not eating out once in a while wasn't too expensive!

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Service-Learning program allowed us to really become a part of the communities which we worked in.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Only needed health care once and one of my program directors picked me up at home, found an eye specialist for me to go to and drove me there making sure all was okay!

* Safety:

Cape Town has a bad reputation for being a very dangerous city. Like any city you just have to be smart. It was when people started to let their guard down that people started to get robbed. Travel in groups (especially at night), be comfortable about your surroundings, walk in the light, etc.

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 was cheap! Sometimes I had to limit the amount I'd go out but I found myself staying on my budget.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $45
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Save when you can but remember you're only there once. A lot of people in my program regretted not doing things when they could have actually afforded it.

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

  • Americans
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?
  • People
  • Place
  • Activities
* What could be improved?
  • Nothing!
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Do things in the beginning as much as possible because time flies!