An unforgettable, life changing experience Past Review
By A student (Wellesley College) - abroad from 08/30/2019 to 12/08/2019 with
The School for Field Studies / SFS: Tanzania - Wildlife Management Studies
I was able to learn a lot about myself though this experience and broaden my worldview while gaining a lot of knowledge that I can take to my majors. It was definitely worthwhile
Personal Information
| 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 |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
I had no issues with food, but I know people that were vegetarian, especially vegan, or had dietary restrictions did struggle a little during expedition (when we were camping) and early on but it did get better as the program went on |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The campus was closed off but we have chances to go out into the community, do community service, and hang around town so free time was really what you made of it |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
There were always first aid kits available for minor injuries, and for more major ones there were health clinics that we would get driven t. I never had to go to one so I cannot speak to the experience. For the program the Yellow Fever vaccine is required and I also ended up getting the typhoid vaccine |
| * Safety: |
I largely felt safe the entire program. It is a very structured program so you are driven in SFS vehicles and are required to go places with at least on other person for safety reasons. The campus is fenced and guarded. Even outside the campus I had no safety concerns |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I would like the opportunity to expand on what I did before, learn more Swahili, and also, visit the campus again |
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) |
Because I was in East Africa and in a program where all of my meals were covered I spent very little money |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $50/week on average |
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 |
Staff members would encourage using Swahili by greeting in Swahili and asking questions, and we would be encouraged to use it in the area |
| 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 in the host language |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 0 |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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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? | 0 |
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? | That it is ok to take time to yourself, and it's ok to open up to people and try to get to get to know them |
