Worth Every Minute Past Review

By (Brandeis University) - abroad from 01/02/2019 to 04/14/2019 with

CIEE: Santiago - Liberal Arts, Dominican Republic

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
How can I possibly some this up... I learned some social dynamics/inequities have not only a local or national context, but also a global continuity. I learned that this world is a big, beautiful place absolutely worth exploring. I learned that human connection spans across borders and oceans and to be open to fully embracing a new experience in the time abroad. I would absolutely do this again!

Review Photos

CIEE: Santiago - Liberal Arts, Dominican Republic Photo CIEE: Santiago - Liberal Arts, Dominican Republic Photo CIEE: Santiago - Liberal Arts, Dominican Republic Photo CIEE: Santiago - Liberal Arts, Dominican Republic Photo CIEE: Santiago - Liberal Arts, Dominican Republic Photo

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I enjoyed receiving an education experience that was outside of that which I have been used to in the US. I had a wonderful experience with all but one of my professors. The coursework content was fascinating. I loved being able to flex my brain muscles while learning in Spanish as well. You will certainly face an adjustment period when it comes to how Dominicans conceptualize time, grades, learning, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I got along fine with my host family. I didn't have any major issues with them. I liked how close my home was to campus.

* Food:

Food in DR was delicious! Dishes could get a bit repetitive as you will eat Dominican staple food items OFTEN (rice, beans, plantains, etc). As a picky eater, I got to expand my palette. As a vegetarian/vegan, I still managed to survive, but did find some difficulty in getting in adequate nutrition at times. Also, keep in mind that the Dominican diet consists of high carb intake.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I personally did not experience much difficulty integrating with the local culture. However, I did firsthand witness the peers in my program experience difficulty on the basis of their gender sexual orientation and skin color. As a light-skinned black woman, I faced the at times uncomfortable reality of being a woman in the "machista" Dominican culture; yet, as a ethnically-mixed/ambiguous person, faced little to no trouble for my color/racial identity. I would advise prospective students to be conscious should they belong to any typically marginalized groups. Although, it might be particularly difficult to deal with implicit and explicit biases abroad, I'd encourage you to understand that some of the same racism, sexism, homophobia, etc that exists at home in the U.S. exist many other parts of the world, although in distinct. However, I would not let this dissuade you from experiencing all that is beautiful about DR.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Healthcare was easily accessible as it was on campus. Program staff were great in helping us navigate receiving healthcare. I did not experience sickness, outside of a brief cold. However, many of the illness that students experienced were typically related to contaminated food, so really listen to the program staff when they advise you! And, also don't fret because most, if not all of the illnesses that people experienced were highly preventable and/or treatable. Something I feel that the program might improve upon is the resources they have for mental health needs. I did not see resources dedicated to this very critical aspect of health.

* Safety:

I felt very safe. No safety issues, but Tips.... -Don't be flashy (keep your expensive smart phones, cameras, etc put away) -Maintain a buddy system, if possible; keep in mind, I often walked alone from place to place and felt fine, but just for additional comfort bring a friend -Be aware of your surroundings in general and particularly as a pedestrian (driving out there is "muy loco"!)

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

This program was the right choice for me!

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)

As compared to prices in the U.S., those in DR are incredibly reasonable. Study abroad does not have to be expensive! I am glad I went to DR (a less typical location), rather than Europe/other parts of Latin America not only for the unique experience, but also for the cost savings.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $14-40/week. Most of my money went to outside excursions, going out with friends and buying souvenirs.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Make a spreadsheet of weekly spending (for at least 1 month) to track how much you are spending and what you are buying. Then, budget accordingly for the rest of your trip. Also, take advantage of costs included in the program--this program included 3 meals/day at my homestay, so more often than not I would eat at home to save money for things I wanted to splurge on.

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

The program was made up of students at various levels of the Spanish language. As a result, there was often a conflict between communicating with students for understanding (in English) or for language acquisition (in Spanish). Often times the communication by staff to students was in English, which was disappointing because it was the "easy way out" for those who had the potential to grow from Spanish dialogue. This dynamic made it difficult for people of various Spanish levels. The language pledge was not really seriously followed and not heavily encouraged by staff, which enabled students to fall back into their default comfort zone of speaking English.

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Intermediate
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Advanced
How many hours per day did you use the language?
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Have the discipline to use the language all the time, even if that means using Spanglish to communicate your point. Communication is possible with creativity, no matter what your language level is! Set reasonable individual goals for how many hours per day/week you want to use the language and try to stick to them.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Host Family
* 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?
  • Diverse program excursions
  • Phenomenal educational experience
  • Liveliness/character of the country
* What could be improved?
  • Adherence to language pledge
  • Mental health resources
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I felt prepared to go on this program. Everything I learned in DR, I had to experience for myself.

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 Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.