SIT South Africa--the absolute best way to experience Cape Town Past Review
By A student (Anthropology., Tufts University) - abroad from 01/27/2012 to 05/10/2012 with
SIT Study Abroad: South Africa - Multiculturalism and Human Rights
I learned an incredible amount about South Africa and got to see a fair amount of the country. Doing my ISP research made me feel independent and confident in my interviewing skills. I made great relationships with my host families and other SIT kids
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. |
The overall academic structure of the Multiculturalism and Human Rights seminar is disjointed and could benefit from more consistency--SIT draws in lecturers on different topics that often overlap and we hear the same information multiple times. I enjoyed the isiXHosa language class, although most kids on my program did not. Field Studies Seminar is a joke. Independent Study Project (ISP) is the best reason to do SIT and was a wonderful experience to end my year abroad |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I had issues with the Academic Director, who was nepotistic to the point of neglecting students who needed serious intervention from SIT. One of the staff members, Maggie, is lovely and incredibly helpful if you need logistical help. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Living with a host family is the best way to study abroad, hands down. During ISP you live with your friends and can do whatever you want. It is a wonderful compromise and I loved this structure |
| * Food: |
Sometimes the food in my host families was difficult to adapt to (KFC, fat cakes, and tripe?) but that's a consequence of living in a host family. Totally worth it |
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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? |
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| * Safety: |
The fact is that Cape Town, and SA in general, is unsafe and you will be targeted. However, I made smart decisions and never had an incident |
| 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) |
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| * Was housing included in your program cost? | Yes |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | Yes |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $30-50 |
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 |
The benefit I got from Xhosa was on my own time. I worked outside of class to learn vocabulary and encouraged my host families to speak with me and teach me. |
| 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? | Work outside of class, otherwise there won't be any point in spending time learning the language. You have the potential to get pretty far if you apply yourself. it was definitely worth it |
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? | That I would be around the same group of Americans almost all day for almost the entire semester |
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.' |
