Four months in Uganda Past Review

By A student (Middlebury College) - abroad from 01/29/2017 to 05/13/2017 with

SIT Study Abroad Uganda: Global Development Studies

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

I gained the ability to adapt (I would like to think) to any situation I am placed in. I gained a new level of respect and understanding for a completely different way of thinking than the way I have been brought up.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program?	6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.	The challenges faced and learning achieved through this program were not through academic rigor or intensity. There were some (basically optional) readings, and some very short assignments, but it never felt as though there was a heavy workload.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program	Everyone on staff was warm and pleasant and approachable, but not organized.
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	I had a great experience living with my host family - this was one of my favorite parts of the program. During ISP time, SIT gave us a very nice space to live, but it came with several inconveniences (not enough keys, long walk from public transport, water would often run out)
* Food:	Don't come to Uganda for flavorful food, or if you don't want to eat carbs... you get used to it though.
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	Uganda has the friendliest people I've ever met, and I felt welcome and comfortable everywhere I went. The program basically forces local immersion - from living with a truly Ugandan family, to using the Ugandan transport system, eating their food, and working (during ISP time) in a Ugandan institution.
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?	The hospital that SIT affiliates with is a perfectly respectable facility, and I have no complaints in that regard. However I found the way SIT dealt with health issues to be quite disorganized and ineffective (especially with regards to the health insurance they provide), although they were available for support.
* Safety:	Kampala is a safe place if you're careful. I had my purse stolen off of me at night because I was carrying it on the shoulder closest to the street and not holding onto it tightly.
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program?	Yes

Finances

* 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)	Kampala is cheap, but the small expenses add up quicker than you expect.
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	$140
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	Don't expect to live off of the stipend provided by SIT during ISP time

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component?	Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language? 0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language
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?	I found that the purpose of learning the basics of Luganda was to be able to jumpstart an initial connection with a person by being able to say 'hi' and 'thank you' to a person in their local language - and it was fun to practice in this way - but there isn't time in the program to go far beyond that.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Host Family Apartment
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Americans Host Family
* Who did you take classes with? Select all that apply	Americans
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?	Host family Internship Other students on the program
* What could be improved?	Organization Health-related issues Deeper/less superficial discussions/debates during class
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	Kampala comes alive at night

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 Blazer Craving 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.'