Interesting public health experience Past Review
By A student (Macalester College) - abroad from 08/27/2019 to 12/09/2019 with
SIT Study Abroad: Chile - Public Health, Traditional Medicine, and Community Empowerment
It was very worthwhile. I learned all about the health system in the country, advantages and disadvantages, the culture, and the people!
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
It was a public health program, so they were very on top of health. However they do have some improvements to be made in addressing mental health issues. |
| * Safety: |
I stayed safe, but we were advised to be on alert and to not walk alone. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
Only because at the time that I went there was political protest and a lot of civil unrest. It made some elements of the program extremely difficult, but was no fault of the program. |
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) |
You don't really have to spend money if you don't want to because all of the meals are provided by your host family if you plan with them well. Part of the culture though is going out to restaurants or bars. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 50-75 USD |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Take out large amounts at a time from ATMs if that is how you plan to get money, because the ATM fees are expensive! |
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? | 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? | 343 |
| 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? | Speak it with the other people on the program! |
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? |
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? | It is going to be a hard experience, but worth it! |
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 Avid AdventurerThe wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal. |
