The Most Valuable Academic and Intercultural Experience of a Lifetime Past Review
By Rachel (N/A) - abroad from 06/08/2008 to 12/07/2009 with
InterFuture: Overseas Cultural Immersion and Cross-cultural Research
Intercultural engagement skills Qualitative and quantitative research design, administration, and dissemination. Language skills Public speaking and debate Direction for overall career development Confidence and empowerment in my academic ability Two host families Relationships and collaboration with an impressive alumni network.
Review Photos
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. |
This program is outstanding. Most alumni will agree, InterFuture is the highlight of their undergraduate experience. After InterFuture, I had the skills and drive to earn my masters degree in a related field from an Ivy League school. InterFuture gives students individualized and rigorous training from a diverse all-volunteer staff of professionals in their fields. For students who want their time abroad to be as closely linked to their locales, InterFuture is ideal. Before InterFuture, I had never been on an airplane, after InterFuture I have extended family living halfway across the world. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Living with a host family and working directly with my Country Coordinator made my time abroad engaging and well supported. I always knew there was a network of support around me. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The two host families I was welcomed into were accommodating, and supportive. They helped teach me things about my locales that I would never have gotten to learn. Now, I have two extended families in my two locales, halfway across the world. |
| * Food: |
Great food and drink. My host families seemed to want to send me home having gained 10 pounds. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
InterFuture is all about immersion and reflective practice. The conferences before departure gave me great tools to make the most out of my time abroad. I had some contact with other expats but I preferred the local culture around me. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
InterFuture was a priceless experience. I have no regrets whatsoever about choosing InterFuture. I am confident that there is no other program as valuable as InterFuture. |
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) |
The program covers your room and board with host families who are well-vetted and accommodating. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 10 |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
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| 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 |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | High School |
| 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? | Don't be self-critical. People abroad won't expect you to speak perfectly, just keep at it and listen to people around you. Do whatever you can to force yourself to avoid your first language. Treat it like a bad habit you're trying to kick. |
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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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? | 10+ |
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 only wish I had known just how valuable InterFuture would be. |
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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
