a great place for experiential learning May 14, 2023
By studentA (Environmental Studies, Wellesley College) - abroad from 02/02/2023 to 05/19/2023 with
SIT Study Abroad: Samoa - Social and Environmental Change in Oceania
this program prioritizes indigenous knowledge and decolonial methodologies and I got to experience new ways of living and value systems outside of a western context which was extremely valuable.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
not always very academically rigorous but very culturally rich (which I preferred- gave us time to appreciate where we were at and learn outside of the classroom) |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
academic director is very well-connected and sets up lots of interesting excursions and guest lectures. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
families were extremely nice and administrators helped to move students if there was a problem |
| * Food: |
food is integral to the cultural experience in Samoa and most of it is very tasty! you just have to be willing to move outside your comfort zone sometimes and try new things. Hard for vegetarians but not impossible but spices are not very common. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
homestays were very important in feeling like we were able to experience Samoan life and culture. staying in the village for a week was also a very valuable experience to see life outside of the urban setting. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
there were very few health issues this semester, minor issues like ear infections and head colds, but if someone needed access to healthcare it was accessible and easy- the director or assistant accompanied us. |
| * Safety: |
felt very safe in Samoa. it is a small country and if we were going out we were almost always accompanied by a local. just exercise common sense like you would in any city and you will be fine! |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
This program is best for students happy to experience a small country with a smaller group of people with whom you will be very close for the duration of the semester. There are beautiful hikes, beaches, and places to see in Samoa but there are also not a lot of things to do in Apia (the city where you will be attending school). if you are looking for a traditional classroom experience, this is also not for you. This program balances cultural experiences and experiential learning with classroom time and it is less academically rigorous in the traditional sense but still very rich. |
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) |
Samoa is relatively inexpensive and I was able to comfortable live on about $100 a week for food and personal expenses/activities which is within the stipend provided by the program |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | under $100 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | buy gifts from local shops and markets, not tourist shops because they are always more expensive. take the bus when possible, taxis can add up. |
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 |
we used the language every day (at a basic level), especially when in homestays. |
| 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? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | don't focus too much on the rules and grammar and just memorize relevant info and use it frequently with everyone |
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? | 0 |
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? | be willing to try new things and be uncomfortable that is where the most growth and learning happens |
