A South African Summer to Remember February 10, 2025
By Madd W (Political Science, Simmons University) - abroad from 06/11/2024 to 08/01/2024 with
SIT Study Abroad: South Africa - International Relations in the Global South
Words fail to capture the amazing experience I had in South Africa. Initially, I was anxious about fitting in or feeling out of place, but the program staff, along with my fellow students, made everything worthwhile. A special thanks to Sdu for making the experience feel so enjoyable and natural!
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Much of the academic intensive writing and assignments took place during the first few weeks of the program. I didn't feel it was too much, considering the incredible amount of activities we were also participating in. I'm very thankful that the program staff was flexible with assignments and gave us plenty of opportunities to apply it to our own life experiences. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I really loved the program staff and felt they were very down-to-earth. They made sure that we were fully equipped with the information necessary to be both respectful and curious in this new environment. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I loved the housing arrangement. We bounced between hotels and hostels and spent two weeks with host families. I loved my host family so much that I still keep in contact with them today. For the final month of the trip, we settled in an apartment that I shared with two other roommates. It was wonderful! |
| * Food: |
The food was certainly an experience! I am a picky eater, but I found that there was something for even the pickiest of eaters to enjoy. There were many stews and curries, as there is a large Indian population in Durban. We even got to try cow's head at a local market, which was a ton of fun. I did miss some American breakfasts, though! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt incredibly included within the community in Durban. We spoke with many locals, especially those who worked at our apartment complex. Everyone was incredibly friendly and welcoming. I strongly recommend learning some isiZulu, which made locals feel respected and acknowledged. It was also a great conversation starter at bars! |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I got a nasty cold during my adjustment period in South Africa, and Ms. Shola (my lifesaver) took incredible care of me! She even set up a doctor's appointment for me to get antibiotics for a cold sore I developed. Also, all health precautions were taken very seriously. We were given very specific instructions during our trip to Mozambique that helped us to avoid malaria. |
| * Safety: |
South Africa has a bad reputation for safety, but I found the cities we visited to have safety standards similar to those in large US cities. Much of it is simply common sense: Don't walk around alone at night, don't get in random cars, and always have a buddy. Even as a queer presenting woman, I felt incredibly safe. Just make sure your phone stays tucked away at all times! One person on my trip had it stolen while out at the clubs! |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I plan to return to South Africa someday; it truly changed 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) |
The money conversion made it easy to safe money here, but it still definitely piles up over time! I recommend setting yourself a budget each week. |
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 |
They were very encouraging of us to speak isiZulu! It was not required, but really enriched the experience. Program staff, Sdu, also helped out a lot with pronunciation. |
| 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? | It was not required, just recommended to have a basic intro level education on the language. |
| 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? | Duolingo! Also, talk to Sdu and Nonceba! |
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? | Bring your host family a small token of appreciation! I brought some touristy stuff from the USA, but they greatly appreciated it. |
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 Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
