A Trailblazing Semester Past Review

By (Global Health, Wellesley College) - abroad from 08/23/2015 to 12/12/2015 with

SIT Study Abroad: Kenya - Global Health and Human Rights

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned a lot about health systems and research methods.

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.

It was an enlightening experience especially from educational excursions and lectures .

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

They were very accommodating and flexible to our needs. They allowed us to shape the program the way we wanted it to.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

We lived in homestay families to get the cultural experience. Through this, I was able to establish deep relationships with my families and learned more about the culture.

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Although my homestay family was Kenyan and I had Kenyan friends, it would have been nice to have taken classes with other Kenyan students. However, due to the time and logistics I understand it wasn't possible.

* 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)

We received little stipends but we had to budget it and we couldn't always eat/do the things we wanted to.

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

It was very intensive. However it helped us to connect with locals and get us around. It was helpful to live in homestay families where we were able to practice.

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? Beginner
How many hours per day did you use the language?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • 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?
  • Educational Excursions
  • Homestay Families
  • Independent Research Period
* What could be improved?
  • More free time
  • Longer period of intensive language
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I would read more about Kenya and it's current affairs