Complicatedly challenging and singular Past Review

By A student (Peace And Justice Studies, Wellesley College) - abroad from 09/15/2012 to 05/08/2013 with

SIT Study Abroad: IHP - Cities in the 21st Century: People, Planning and Politics (Fall 2)

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

It was extremely worthwhile, though I wouldn't repeat the experience. I have intentions on returning some of the places I had the privilege of visiting. I worked on developing a personal philosophy of patience and "everyone has a story."

Review Photos

SIT Study Abroad: Multiple - IHP: Cities in the 21st Century: People, Planning, and Politics (Fall 2) Photo

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program?	6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.	The academic rigor of IHP:BG often surpassed my academic experience at Wellesley College- given the proximity to visceral experiences, realities, and practicums.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program	All of our country staffs were delightful, resourceful, and knowledgeable people- without them the programs wouldn't have functioned as smoothly as they did.
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?
* Food:	Adjusting to different diets is always a task and you're bound to get an upset stomach- its all apart of the experience, dig in!
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?	I always felt safe and like I had adequate access to health care when needed.
* Safety:	I often felt safe and felt that my safety was being assured by the country staff. We had regular safety breakdowns and warnings about every place we visited, even those that we only spent a night of a day visiting.
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program?	No

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)	Although my study abroad program sent me a tentative student expenditure abroad, I neglected to believe the amount. I wish I would have worked before traveling abroad to a assure a peace of mind in regarding finances.
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	Overall study abroad expenditures: $1500/academic year
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	-Find small places to eat -Pack lunches from your host family as much as you can -Remember that you always have time to buy family gifts (its not about how many you them, rather that they carry a story) -Keep your vacations simple and easy (if you are traveling more than a day to get to your vacation spot, it is probably too expensive and already time-consuming) -Set a "going-out" budget/weekly

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component?	No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Dorm Other Host Family Hotel Hostel
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Local Students Americans International Students Host Family Other
* Who did you take classes with? Select all that apply	Americans International Students
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?	Interactive component between student and faculty, as well as students and local communities
* What could be improved?	Training faculty in conflict resolution/transformation ideologies Including time for adequate teambuilding and bonding
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	Dance and play more. There will always be group dynamics that are sticky in any group that you choose to engage. Approaching this situation with a light-heart and many smiles will ease the experience. Remember, it is not for you to create community or even educate everyone else around you, rather to co-learn and smile.

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 Networker An active student leader, it was important for you to network abroad as well. Once overseas, you sought out student clubs, volunteered with local organizations, or attended community events. You encouraged your friends join you, and often considered how you could reflect your international experiences in a resume.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	ECCP
Course Department:	Ecology
Instructor:	Jen Jones
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	The IHP academic experience would not have been complete without Jen Jones' ECCP. She works extremely hard through organized and complicated lectures, readings, and exercises to access our connection to the critters and different understandings of nature.
Credit Transfer Issues:	I am in the process of accessing my final transcript from the program.

Course Name/Rating:	CS: Comparative Social Movements
Course Department:	Political Science, Peace and Justice Studies
Instructor:	Fatma Aloo, Sonal, Jonathan Treat, Peter Horsely
Instruction Language:	Mostly English
Comments:	Phenomenal course with plenty of fieldwork and opportunity to interact with current, ongoing, and past social movements. This was the course that helped in making some of the strong connections between the actions of the "First world" and globalization.
Credit Transfer Issues:	In the process of acquiring my transcript from the program.