An Unforgettable, Exhilarating Experience Past Review

By (Biology, Truman State University) - abroad from 05/24/2014 to 07/21/2014 with

CIEE: Gaborone - Summer Community Public Health

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned how to adapt to a new lifestyle, and I got a glimpse into how health care is dealt with in another country.

Review Photos

CIEE: Gaborone - Summer Community Public Health Photo CIEE: Gaborone - Summer Community Public Health Photo CIEE: Gaborone - Summer Community Public Health Photo CIEE: Gaborone - Summer Community Public Health Photo

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

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)

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? None
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Beginner

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • International Students
* 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?
  • Learning about Tswana culture
  • Learning about health care in Botswana
  • Having opportunities to go on excursions
* What could be improved?
  • Emphasizing that our role in clinic is almost purely observational
  • Organizing the layout of coursework/assignments
  • Improving the public health class in general -- too basic
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew that I would be observing in clinics, rather that working in them as the program description implied. (This has been fixed in CIEE's program description.) Other than that, everything was laid out quite nicely upon enrollment in the program!