Friendships formed through study abroad intensity. Past Review

By (Wellesley College) - abroad from 09/01/2016 to 12/14/2016 with

SIT Study Abroad: China - Health, Environment, and Traditional Chinese Medicine

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was of course worthwhile. I think you learn more about your home country when you study abroad.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The staff is almost like a family with each other, and I trusted them completely from the start.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

There was very little opportunity to make friends with fellow college students, and traveling constantly made it hard to make local friends at all.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

Kunming is extremely safe, as far as I can tell.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

I made great lifelong friends with my classmates and teachers and learned a lot about who I am in the context of other cultures.

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 given a stipend for food and transportation.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $100
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Don't buy unnecessary goods and services.

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? 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? Chinese 202
How many hours per day did you use the language?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
  • Hotel
  • Hostel
* 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?
  • Staff
  • Location
  • Subject matter
* What could be improved?
  • Schedule distribution
  • Research preparation
  • Laundry service
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Pack lightly.

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 Blazer
Craving 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.'