A Life Changing Experience in South Africa February 14, 2025
By Neha S (Gender Studies, Social Justice, and Law, University of Redlands) - abroad from 08/30/2024 to 12/12/2024 with
SIT Study Abroad: South Africa - International Relations in the Global South
I gained a stronger sense of self and learned a lot about South African culture and South African politics on the global stage. I 100% feel that this program was worthwhile for me
Review Photos
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. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * 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? |
The program has connections to a doctor's clinic inside of the building in which we attended classes which made making appointments easy and accessible. |
| * Safety: |
We were informed on the importance of being vigilant as soon as we got to South Africa. I personally never felt extremely unsafe during the program; however, I remained vigilant with my belongings and did not venture into the inner city alone. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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) |
We had a $20 stipend/week for meals that were not a part of our homestay. When we moved into the ISP portion of our semester, we were given 100$ as a stipend to cover our food and rent which was doable but we did end up spending our own money as well. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Plan excursions you want to go on ahead of time and budget them in, it will make your travels easier! |
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? | None |
| 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? | Use Duolingo to get the basics down and just keep trying to practice the language with the locals! They will appreciate the effort and help you along as well |
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 wish I knew how many Indian people were in Durban before I arrived, I would have made an even larger effort to build community and visit temples. |
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 BlazerCraving 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.' |
