Complete Caribbean Immersion Past Review

By (Clark University - Worcester) - abroad from 01/02/2013 to 04/30/2013 with

CIEE: Santiago - Service Learning, Dominican Republic

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Completely! I learned how to live with a family that was not my own without hot water and I learned how to teach children how to read in Spanish. Not to mention I learned how to speak the language!

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.

Very academically intensive

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Administration was inconsistent

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Wonderful host family placement!

* Food:

A lot of fried food and not many vegetarian options

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Unavoidable exposure and integration into the local culture

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Options for health care but must be able to communicate in Spanish

* Safety:

A few instances when I felt unsafe

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)

Spent less than $1000!

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $5-$10
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Everything is very cheap in this country, even the travel. Its a great way to get a lot of experience and have a lot of fun on a low budget!

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

Spanish all the time

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
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Span196
How many hours per day did you use the language? 10+

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • 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?
  • Host Families
  • Community Work
  • Travel
* What could be improved?
  • Work Load
  • On-Site Administration
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Its all going to be ok! You will be so proud of yourself when you complete this program since there are many moments when it doesnt seem possible.

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 Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!