Memories of a lifetime! Past Review
By Katie O (Business Administration, Ithaca College) - abroad from 02/03/2012 to 07/31/2012 with
SSA Education Abroad: Córdoba - Semester, Year or Summer in Argentina
I learned a lot about the local culture and how it is possible to live with minimal materialistic items and with less space. I personally do not need 80% of the items in my room and I also feel more appreciative of how easy living is in the US. It was a challenging and worthwhile experience overall.
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | UNC |
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
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 |
Our director didn't seem to pay individual attention to us. She spoke at the group as if we were each experiencing the same things. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
After switching housing assignments 3 times, I finally found a great family! |
| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Between me host sister and our speaking partners, I believe we received an accurate cultural experience. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Personally, I never used the health insurance but a friend said the medical attention was good and doctors were willing to make house calls as needed. |
| * Safety: |
I walked throughout the city in groups which was the safest thing to do. Occasionally I heard of a single female walking alone (night OR day) and she would get robbed but almost always physically unharmed. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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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? | about $50 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | plan out your trips in the beginning! |
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? | Intermediate |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Fluent |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Intermediate Spanish Conversation |
| 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? | Talk to everyone. everywhere. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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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 fortunately had a contact in Argentina to ask questions to before I left. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Latin American Culture |
| Course Department: | PECLA |
| Instructor: | Carolina |
| Instruction Language: | Spanish |
| Comments: | Although the material was somewhat interesting, the manner of presenting it was one long lecture. The professor was attentive and sweet but the course was boring. Exams were all in written-essay form and some we were able to use notes on. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
