Past Review
By Kiersten K (Sociology., Wellesley College) for
CIEE: Dakar - Language & Culture
FANTASTIC.
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | Suffolk University, Dakar Campus |
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Not too challenging, Wolof was very rewarding, very impressed with my Education and Culture professor. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Well-organized for the most part. Some of the program scheduling was frustrating because it was often difficult to balance individual commitments with local friends and host families with program commitments. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Wakam, Dakar. Absolutely fantastic family in a fabulous neighborhood with a really great group of host families nearby each other. So grateful. <br /><br /> I felt completely safe in my neighborhood. The house had everything I needed and my host family was fantastic and so warm. The program was very helpful with advice on how to best get to class from my homestay. I did not need to buy anything to add to my living situation. My host family treated me like a member of the family. |
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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? |
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| * Safety: |
Dakar is very safe, the most common crimes are theft. Like any other city, you have to be sensible, particularly about pickpocketing. I needed vaccines for yellow fever, typhoid, and malaria medication. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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? | About $20 on food each week. Less on personal expenses. Dakar is incredibly affordable. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Spring Break |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 206 |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
More rigor in the language classes would be awesome, and more use of French by the program directors. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Be ready for all kinds of adventures, keep and open mind, and be ready to meet lots of people and go out and make lasting friendships! |
