Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

An overall good experience but could be much more meaningful with improvements Past Review

By (University of Northern Iowa) - abroad from 12/27/2014 to 01/09/2015 with

University of Northern Iowa: Managua - UNI Winter Capstone Socio-Economic Reality of Nicaragua

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained a better understanding and appreciation for the culture of Nicaragua. I experienced what it is like adjusting to and connecting with people from a different culture. The trip could have been much more worthwhile if we had more reflective group discussions, a more clear purpose, and more chances to build relationships with the people we met.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

There were many learning opportunities that were not taken and we did not have reflective group discussions about the activities we did.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The host country program administration was not allowed to do their job effectively by our professor. They seemed very proficient at their job.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

We were able to have good discussions with our guides and several local college students who were with us for part of the trip. When we were doing service projects, we worked with many children so did not have time to develop relationships.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Our group had no serious issues and we had access to local pharmacies when needed.

* Safety:

I felt safe the whole trip. We stayed in safe locations and had local guides with us the whole time.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

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)

All meals were provided. Souvenirs and activities were very cheap.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $100

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
  • Hostel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* 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? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Fun, thrilling activities like volcano boarding
* What could be improved?
  • better communication between the professor and students
  • a clearer purpose for the activities we did
  • better group dynamics and more cultural sensitivity encouraged
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? More background knowledge on the country

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.