Living and studying in the rainforest was awesome. Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The program was easier than my home institution. The exams, assignments, and lectures were generally easier and students had more free time to explore the study abroad location. It was much more relaxed. I will say that the last month of the program, when students were carrying out their independent research projects, it was rigorous and intense. That month was a lot of work and just as challenging as my home institution.

On-site administration of your program

Overall, the program was well-administered. Lectures were on time, field trips and different activities were organized, and mostly everything was taken care for us. They did treat students like children sometimes with their early curfews on the weekends and sometimes there was a lack of communication between the staff and students but other than that, it was good.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

For being in the rainforest, they were very good. Students shared a cabin with 7 other students, had their own drawers and bed. The bathrooms were communal and cleaned weekly by the students themselves. Living arrangements were rustic but we embraced it since we lived in the rainforest.

The cook's food was always delicious. She prepared great meals for dinner every single day. I had no complaints and I am a picky eater. I though breakfast and dinner were fine, but found lunch very annoying. The options were always sandwiches or wraps, and it was always the same ingredients. If you did not like or got tired of salami, ham, lettuce and beets, then you had nothing to eat. I did not like lunch.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

This question is difficult because we spent the majority of our time in the property owned by The School for FIeld Studies, which is about a 25 minute drive from the nearest town. When visiting the big cities, I felt like a tourist but in the small towns, we integrated with the local culture. We spoke with community members, had meetings with them, went to local businesses, volunteered at the town folk festival, we were part of the community.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

The staff and faculty were very clear about the health issues we could face during our time there. There was an entire day to discussing these issues and solutions or ways to avoid the issues. They told us about too much sun exposure, dangerous animals, insect bites, dehydration, and diseases carried by mammals. We were well informed and they were very attentive if we did not feel good or if we felt ill. They would help us feel better and guide us to the right medication or provide us with the medication.

The property owned by the School for Field Studies is rainforest and the only people who access it are faculty, staff and students. It was the safest place to be apart from snakes, ticks, spiders and other animals. The towns surrounding the property are also very safe and the people are very nice. They are small towns with hardly any crime.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Students were responsible for their personal expenses like for toiletries and souvenirs and if they wanted to buy their own food or own meals at times. We traveled to the city twice and stayed overnight, so students had to pay for their own accommodations. Some tours and evening activities towards the end of the program were not free and students had to pay if they wanted to attend (bat hospital, koala world and wildlife sanctuary). We also had a break where students were responsible for their transportation, food, accommodations and plans for 5 days. All of this added up and it was a bit expensive for a student's budget.

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• Other

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• Americans

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• Americans

• The field trips and outings
• The rainforest
• The courses

• Communication between faculty and students
• The strict rules and curfews they have
• Lunch

The Academic or Linguist