BEST EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE Past Review
By A student (Wellesley College) - abroad from 02/05/2018 to 05/19/2018 with
SIT Study Abroad: Rwanda - Post-Genocide Restoration and Peacebuilding
So much knowledge, exposure, a greater understanding of the world and politics and humanity, and a generally wonderful time with amazing people.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I learned more academically than any other semester of my education. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
They were so helpful, brilliant and kind! |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Host family was an educational experience and living my friends from the abroad program was so much fun. |
| * Food: |
Host family's cooking was delicious and the food in Kigali is pretty good. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I was a foreigner but everyone was so welcoming and kind and I made many great friends from the local community. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I didn't have many health issues but help was very readily available. |
| * Safety: |
Kigali's the safest place I have ever lived in or visited! |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I loved it so much, although I would also do SIT abroad in other locations because it's such a great program. |
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) |
Kigali was mostly cheap but while I was socializing and trying to take advantage of my time there, I wound up spending a fair amount on entertainment, food and drinks. Finances completely depend on your personal preferences and lifestyle. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $90 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Buy drinks and food from grocery stores instead of restaurants. |
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 |
Very encouraged. |
| 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? | None in Kinyarwanda. |
| 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? | Try to learn on your own! |
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? | More about Rwanda. |
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. |
