Great experience - first time abroad Past Review
By Melissa C (Health Sciences - Nutrition, Ithaca College) - abroad from 02/29/2012 to 06/11/2012 with
SIT Study Abroad: Chile - Public Health, Traditional Medicine, and Community Empowerment
So much. It was definitely worthwhile, and I would do it all over again.
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. |
|
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
|
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The homestay aspect was a great way to be immersed in the culture and improve language abilities. Also, it seemed to me that they tried to choose the families taking into consideration each student's personality and own family dynamics, which was great. |
| * Food: |
Depends on your homestay situation, but in general you can plan on eating a lot of bread. When we did eat out with the program though, in hotels and restaurants, the meals were usually tasty and there were vegetarian options. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I think in general the families were a little more upper class than the average chilean families, and we had classes not with chileans but with the program's group, but there are plenty of opportunities to get out and explore, and you definitely interact with a lot of different people, especially during the last month of the program with the ISP. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
|
| * Safety: |
Families are also very protective! |
| 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 receive a stipend for transportation, meals, and housing at appropriate times, so much of the money you spend is a result of the program's cost. |
| * Was housing included in your program cost? | Yes |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | Yes |
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 |
Anytime you interact with chileans, you are using Spanish. Your homestay families, classes, professors, professionals in the area, taxi drivers, chilean friends, etc. |
| 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? | Advanced Grammar and Composition |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 10+ |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Just talk to people. |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
| 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? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | How chileans speak - hard to be prepared for that. |
