Interesting experience Past Review
By A student (Wellesley College) - abroad from 08/21/2016 to 12/18/2016 with
CIEE: Dakar - Language & Culture
I was able to experience life in a middle-class family in Senegal that was eye-opening and fun.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I think the program could have been more intense and academically challenging. I did not find my courses that difficult but I really enjoyed speaking with the professors outside of class. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The onsite administration was really lovely. They were always helpful and answered any questions that I had. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I LOVED my host family. They were really great and welcoming. They made sure that I had everything that I needed and then some. |
| * Food: |
The food was alright. I got tired of eating bread, sheep, and french fries but other than that I enjoyed the food. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt integrated with the local culture, but I would have liked to meet more Senegalese people my age that I could have a more genuine connection with. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Whenever I had health problems, the administration and my host family helped me. |
| * Safety: |
I feel that Dakar is super safe. I would walk home really late and no one would bother me. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
I really wanted to interact with more Senegalese people my age out of the context of home and school. Therefore, if there was a program that did a better job of this, I would do that program. |
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) |
Everything was pretty affordable. I could afford to buy lunch at school, eat out with friends, and buy a few things here and there wihen needed. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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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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 more about the school structure and ways that the program encourages students to be more involved with their community, etc. |
