Life Changing Past Review

By (University of Vermont) - abroad from 02/10/2020 to 03/16/2020 with

Round River Conservation Studies - Botswana Program

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained a connection to a place much different from my home, something I had never done before that made it all worthwhile.

Review Photos

Round River Conservation Studies - Botswana Program 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.

* 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

I would definitely choose the same program. Round River is everything I wanted from a study abroad experience. Community connectivity, small-group learning, and grass-root environmental activism.

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 0-15 USD
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Being in such a rural country I did not spend much of my own money.

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
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? High School Spanish
How many hours per day did you use the language?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Other
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* 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?
  • community connection
  • inclusiveness
  • adaptability
* What could be improved?
  • better preparation list
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Besides the need for a more realistic preparation list, there is nothing I wish or wanted to know before going on this program.