Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Adventure Past Review

By (Texas A&M University - College Station) - abroad from 06/11/2017 to 07/22/2017 with

Entrepreneurship and Empowerment in South Africa / EESA

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
1. It is not enough to stop at political freedom and basic human rights - economic empowerment must follow. 2. Empathy must be employed when designing solutions to complex world problems. 3. On the ground, businesses are a series of processes - everything is interconnected. 4. Storytelling and shared language are powerful tools to transcend cultural differences. 5. Access to education is foundational to changing historical outcomes. 6. It is better to pay for experiences than objects. 7. Never be afraid to explore, take risks, and try new things. 8. A good meal paired with an interesting conversation makes for a terrific night. 9. True friends are the most invaluable things in the world. 10. Ubuntu is my new favorite word. It means, "I am because we are."

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.

This program is no joke - if a student is looking for a relaxed and laid back study abroad, this would not be the program for him or her.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The dorms were certainly not luxurious, to put it nicely, but the single-dorm placement for all program participants allowed for a vibrant community!

* Food:

Buying our own food at the grocery store throughout the program proved to be a major burden. We didn't have reliable or safe transportation of our own, and we were forced to adhere to a third-party transport schedule. Additionally, it was hard to find time to cook with how rigorous the coursework was.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

We truly saw the good and the bad of South Africa - I felt like the experience did the country justice and exposed us to many hidden issues that are often swept under the rug by more privileged South African citizens.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

I always felt safe and didn't fear for my life. However, South Africa requires you to be extremely cautious, especially in certain areas. Thievery and violence are common in the township areas.

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)

You are able to control a lot of your expenses and could feasibly live pretty cheaply if you needed to - we have a strong exchange rate in South Africa. However, to fully take advantage of the program and enjoy the experiences the country has to offer, it can get very expensive very quickly.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $150

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • 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?
  • Friendships
  • Entrepreneurial Experience
  • South African Adventures
* What could be improved?
  • A&M Study Abroad Services
  • Food Situation (Maybe?)
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? The program will be more expensive than you think once you get to South Africa.

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!