Florianopolis study abroad with USAC Past Review
By A student (Construction Management, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo) - abroad from 01/21/2015 to 05/22/2015 with
USAC Brazil: Florianópolis - International Business, Environmental/Conservation Management, and Latin American Studies
I gained a better understanding of south america and i was able to learn a new language
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
the courses were just the right amount of work load |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The people that run this program were some of the most wonderful that i have ever met. Truley good people who wanted to help me in any way that they can. By the end of my stay i considered them close friends and still stay in contact with them today |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived in a host family while I was there and had the most wonderful time with it. My host mother is a very special person and I developed a close bond with during my stay. |
| * Food: |
Rice, Beans, and amazing fruit |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I didn't have any personal health problems while abroad but I know people who did always were able to get some kind of care |
| * Safety: |
If you're smart you should be totally fine. so it's just important to make smart decisions. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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) |
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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 |
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| 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? | Advanced |
| 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? | just practice as much as you can. I also extended my trip to take extra language courses outside my program and this helped me get to a near fluent level of speaking. |
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 had studied at least a little bit of portuguese before going to brazil |
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.' |
