Incredible Opportunity for Cultural Exchange Past Review
By Trevor Goodwin (Lafayette College) - abroad from 01/28/2019 to 05/13/2019 with
SIT Study Abroad: Nepal - Tibetan and Himalayan Peoples
I came in fairly ignorant of Tibetan culture and history and left with not only a greater understanding of that, but also with friendships that I hope will last long after the 4 months of the program. This was the best decision I made in college.
Review Photos
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. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The staff feels like family and is incredibly supportive |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The homestay was one of the most rewarding parts of the experience |
| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Almost everyone on the program got sick but that was expected and when it happened it was handled very well |
| * Safety: |
I never felt unsafe and though the female students felt safe in Nepal, some did not on trips into India |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
It is impossible to know what my experience would have been like in other programs, but in speaking to friends who went elsewhere I can say that the experience I had in Nepal was unique. It was challenging and the greatest learning experience of my life. |
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) |
Much was provided by the program and living was generally very inexpensive |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Roughly $20 |
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 |
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| 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 |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | We were taught Colloquial Tibetan which I had no experience with prior to the trip |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? |
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 we all wish we had read more/had a better background in the culture before we came so that the greater appreciation for the smaller things could be felt more immediately. |
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. |
