Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Action-Packed, Globe-trotting Semester Foiled by COVID-19 Past Review

By (Middlebury College) - abroad from 01/19/2020 to 05/11/2020 with

SIT Study Abroad: IHP - Human Rights: Foundations, Challenges and Advocacy

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Opened my eyes to many of the pre-existing narratives and discourses I'd submitted myself to.

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)

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
  • Host Family
* 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?
  • Faculty and staff
  • Field trips
* What could be improved?
  • Discussions about wealth within the student group
  • Discussions about race within the student group
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? The program felt like many white American students confronting the fact that they were white for the first time. For POC, this was an uncomfortable experience and we often felt like we were assigned as caretakers within the group.

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:

Foundation and Frameworks of Human Rights
Course Department:
Instructor: Dr. CK Lal, Dr. Sara Ababneh, Brian Kamanzi
Instruction Language: English
Comments: These courses were taught by our local faculty in Nepal, Jordan and Chile. Some guest speakers came in individually and for panels as well. Very few field trips for these courses. Standout was Dr. Sara Ababneh from Jordan who did have a full-day field trip (critical geography bus tour of Amman). I participated just as I would have at my home institution. I was assessed with in-class discussions based on reading assignments, but mainly with papers.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Grassroots Movements and NGOs
Course Department:
Instructor: JB Biswokarma, Hadeel Abdul Aziz, Fernanda Glaser
Instruction Language: English
Comments: These were some of my favorite instructors. There were field trips. All instructors were knowledgable, well-prepared and had rich person experiences in the field of NGOs. I participated just as I would have in class at my home institution. We were assessed with readings-based discussions, group presentations, group papers, and an individual paper.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Comparative Issues in Human Rights
Course Department:
Instructor: Dr. Whitney Richards-Calethes
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Was intellectually and personally challenging. Involved in field trips. Teacher was knowledgable and well-prepared. Participated just as I would've at home institution. Assessed with readings-based discussions, and papers.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Course Department:
Instructor:
Instruction Language: Fieldwork Ethics & Comparative Research Methods
Comments: Conducted in-person interviews as part of overarching final research project.
Credit Transfer Issues: