Biodiversity,Resource Management, and the GREATEST excursions ever. Past Review
By A student (Austin College) - abroad from 01/26/2012 to 05/09/2012 with
SIT Study Abroad: Madagascar - Biodiversity and Natural Resource Management
I learned to look at other cultures from another perspective, and to not so easily judge. I also learned first-hand the hard balance between people and the environment, especially in third-world countries. It was definitely worthwhile.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
A little too relaxed and disorganized. The excursions were amazing, though. Not very rigorous. I also felt like I didn't improve much on my french, but Madagascar speaks a very different french. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The Academic Directors were great. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My family was very nice, but my host mom was not very good at handling money, and we would run out of money for breakfast halfway through the week. But I felt very comfortable and accommodated there, and had a lot of fun with my home stay siblings |
| * Food: |
I'm vegetarian, so I knew it was going to be hard, but it was good and I felt accommodated for USUALLY. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt like an outsider for much of the time, but the people were very nice. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Just basic, self explanatory stuff |
| * Safety: |
I got a tropical swimmers ear. I also got yelled at by men on the street |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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) |
Hardly spent any money the entire semester, maybe $200 |
| * Was housing included in your program cost? | Yes |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | Yes |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Less than $10 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | n/a |
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 |
The lectures were in french, but the professors never cared if we spoke in english during excursions. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | French 350 |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Actually talk to people in french even if they think you're crazy. |
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? | How much I'd have to carry my heavy bag around. Rabies vaccination was not entirely necessary. |
