learning & living experientially - appreciation, gratitude, living in the moment Past Review
By Cathleen Calderón (Yale University) - abroad from 01/29/2016 to 05/12/2016 with
SIT Study Abroad: Indonesia - Arts, Religion, and Social Change
I became a calmer, less worried, less frantic, more patient, more loving, more open, happier person because of my experience abroad. I learned to treat everything in life as a learning experience and to approach things and people without expectations or reservations.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Readings nicely accompanied the excursions and other experiences we had in the program. Our instructors encouraged us to connect what we were reading with what we were seeing. However, the assignments we turned in were based more on observations and less on readings. The readings supplemented what we learned experientially when we took the midterm and final exams. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Directors, coordinators, and instructors were available 24/7 and went above and beyond in making sure we were safe and comfortable! |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My host family was wonderful - caring, attentive, patient, kind - everything good in the world! I got lucky. |
| * Food: |
I miss Indonesian food so, so much. And the food provided at the program center was amazing - and there were options for every diet. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Fully integrated! Living at home with my host family, speaking Indonesian in class and at home, on the streets, in stores, restaurants, etc. And going on every excursion or small trip offered - that helped with getting comfortable with new surroundings. Also asking questions helps a lot! |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Health issues was the topic of one of the first discussions we had as a group - a local doctor also served as a guest speaker. When anyone had health issues, they were cared for immediately and as a priority above all academic and extra-curricular activities. |
| * Safety: |
Everyone stayed safe throughout our trip, and I think a key to accomplishing this was following the advice of our director and teachers, and sometimes families. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I became a calmer, less worried, less frantic, more patient, more loving, more open, happier person because of my experience abroad. The people were lovely - caring, sharing - and the place was beyond beautiful. I also got to study things I have not focused on in school, which was my goal for going abroad. |
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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 20 USD |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Understand how the USD compares to the currency of the country(ies) you are going to, spread your money out, research for scholarships from your program and apply, ask your program directors about what financial input is expected from you during your time in the program - be clear about everything! Get as informed as possible about money for research, transportation, meals, time away from the group (if allowed), etc. |
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 |
We spoke Indonesian every day and had intensive language study from the beginning of the program until we departed for independent study projects. Excursions and conversations with everyone we saw when away from the program center were crucial to learning the language - speaking the language you are studying by practicing with your host family is so beneficial!! |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| 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? | I had not studied the language before departing |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 10+ |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Speak with your host families, don't be shy or afraid of making mistakes, understand that the people you speak with probably appreciate that you are trying, laugh at any mistakes you make and ask questions in class! Also pay attention to the links between language and cultural customs, practices, social behaviors, etc. |
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? | I think that I approached this program in the best way possible - no expectations, no reservations. |
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. |
