Four Months Around the World: The Expected and Unexpected of Study Abroad Past Review

By (Climate Change, Wellesley College) - abroad from 08/24/2015 to 12/14/2015 with

SIT Study Abroad: IHP Climate Change - The Politics of Land, Water, and Energy Justice

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I definitely believe my study abroad experience was worthwhile. When I was initially searching for a program, I knew I wanted to challenge myself and really learn about a topic I am passionate about. I think IHP really enriched my understanding of the world and people and I cannot imagine myself in the future doing something unrelated to the environment. I think my study abroad gave me fresh perspectives on how to approach life and love myself. Being with 24 other students 24/7 was a uncomfortable at first, but we really grew into a family and I cannot imagine doing abroad with any other people.

Review Photos

SIT Study Abroad: IHP - Climate Change: The Politics of Food, Water and Energy Photo SIT Study Abroad: IHP - Climate Change: The Politics of Food, Water and Energy Photo SIT Study Abroad: IHP - Climate Change: The Politics of Food, Water and Energy Photo SIT Study Abroad: IHP - Climate Change: The Politics of Food, Water and Energy Photo SIT Study Abroad: IHP - Climate Change: The Politics of Food, Water and Energy 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.

* 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

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? I spent about $1,100 out of pocket for additional expenses not covered by my program.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

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
  • Host Family
* 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?
  • the countries, sites, and local people
  • the students on the program with me
  • my traveling faculty, country coordination team, and host families
* What could be improved?
  • Communication by the program to the students before orientation week.
  • The travel agency that booked our group's tickets.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew how to pack correctly for a program such as IHP. I knew I was going to pack for three countries but I was not prepared for the reality of moving into a host family then into hotel and back again as well as experiencing a variety of terrains and climates. The one thing I would do differently is pack lighter because access to laundry was never really a problem and layering is convenient.