Great program with some minor reservations Past Review
By A student (Carleton College) - abroad from 08/29/2015 to 12/18/2015 with
SSA Education Abroad: Havana - Semester, Year or Summer in Cuba
Yes, absolutely! It was an affordable program that returned so much to me.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The academics at the University of Havana totally depend on what courses you choose to take. Some of them are easier, and some are extremely difficult. I took a spectacular class on Caribbean Literature, but my Spanish class was somewhat disappointing and unnecessary, as I didn't need it at all and only took it because it was mandatory. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I would have liked a better orientation, and I didn't feel that my needs were met all the time. I thought that the SSA staff in Havana did a great job with what they were provided, but they didn't have many resources or support from the home office all the time. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My host family was my absolute favorite part of my experience in Havana. Part of why I chose SSA is that you live with a host family, and I credit that with my spanish improvement, my comfort in the country, and the connections I feel to Cuba still. |
| * Food: |
The host family food was amazing, and I picked up lots of cooking tricks from my host mom. Food outside the home is either suspiciously cheap or way too expensive. Lots of pork, so if you don't eat pork, Cuba may not be the place for you. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I was extremely well integrated between direct enrollment and my host family, and I really appreciated SSA's commitment to having us speak Spanish at all times. We were one of the only programs to do so and I think it reflects extremely well on our language acquisition. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I went to the hospital once when I was sick and received excellent care with the program's insurance. I was prescribed vitamin C as treatment for my cold. |
| * Safety: |
Havana is a very safe city, and I never felt endangered, but as a woman, especially a foreign woman, I must warn that street harassment is a HUGE problem in Cuba, and for me, at least, it was the most difficult part of my experience abroad. I wish SSA hadn't glossed over that so much in the pre-departure materials, and I'm still impacted to this day by the effects of constant cat-calling and worse. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I did extensive research before I went abroad, and even a year later, I feel that I learned the most and had the most meaningful experience because of the program I chose. |
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) |
Super easily. I brought too much money and spent very little of it. The flight was too expensive--there were definitely cheaper options, but living in Havana was very easy on the wallet. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | anywhere from $5 to $20, depending on the week. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Eat with your host family! Buy pizzas from Havana pizza for lunch! |
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 |
Favorite part of the program. We spoke Spanish at all times. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| 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? | Spanish literature class in college. |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 10+ |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Just speak it. Don't worry about embarrassing yourself. |
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 wish I knew how uncomfortable I would be at times, but that I would learn to embrace the discomfort and learn from 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 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.' |
