100 days of wonder Past Review

By (Bates College) - abroad from 02/28/2012 to 06/06/2012 with

SIT Study Abroad Mongolia and Siberia: Nomadism, Geopolitics, and the Environment

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned to adapt and adventure.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Amazing teachers, rigorous program.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The administrators became our family. Amazing people.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Wonderful, unforgettable homestays.

* Food:

5 stars for exotic eats. Learn to love goat meat.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Thoroughly. Really got invested and involved in the culture.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

We had a few incidents swiftly taken care of by our administrators.

* Safety:

We always had a safety net with our wonderful administrators.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

It changed my life. Profound experience. Unforgettable adventure.

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? Don't remember.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? You live with a family, so you can pretty much spend no money.

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

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?
  • Staff/Friends
  • Country
  • Adventure
* What could be improved?
  • ?
  • ?
  • ?
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? The language!

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 Nearly Native or Trail Blazer
Craving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.'