Nicaragua: Learning There's More to Every Story. Past Review

By (Psychology / International Relations, SUNY - College at Geneseo) - abroad from 05/21/2013 to 06/19/2013 with

SUNY Geneseo: El Sauce - Humanities Course

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Learned that the best experiences begin outside of your comfort zone and there is more than one side to every story.

Review Photos

SUNY Geneseo: El Sauce - Humanities Course Photo

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I was able to learn so much about the Western Tradition and achieve a deeper understanding of the literature through my experiences in Nicaragua, a country that largely had such traditions enacted upon it yet grew to develop it's own unique flavor and contributions. The professors did an amazing job and I highly recommend taking Humanities abroad as opposed to in the classroom.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Enlace Project has an awesome staff. They are very helpful and encouraging and overall did a great job!

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The opportunities are there for you to interact with the locals, but it is up to you to take advantage of those opportunities to integrate. It is very easy to slip into the habit of spending most of your time with your study abroad companions, and it is important to advise students to step out of there comfort zone and meet the people and the culture they came to meet.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

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)

meals are provided you are very well fed, but often need to buy bottles of water throughout the day as it is very hot and you could get dehydrated

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $50

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

Spanish was not required as the course itself is in English, but it is very helpful and those who know even a little are encouraged to use it, especially since the host families often speak little to no English.

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? Advanced
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Spanish 202
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? speak with friends, use conversationally and don't worry as much about the grammar, think more about getting your point across and knowing enough vocab to hold conversations

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
  • Hotel
  • Hostel
* 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?
  • the people
  • the raw history of Nicaragua
  • learning about sustainability
* What could be improved?
  • better communication prior to trip
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I had packed better clothes for the heat and took the time to practice more Spanish.

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 Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Humanities II

Course Department:
Instructor: Weston Kennison
Instruction Language: English
Comments:
Credit Transfer Issues: