Unforgettable Past Review
By A student (Texas A&M University - College Station) - abroad from 06/03/2017 to 06/24/2017 with
USAC Cuba: La Habana - Cuban History, Society, Politics, and Culture
I learned a lot about myself living in another country for an extended period. I met new people from all over the world, and it was definitely a worthwhile experience.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
All of the classes I took were great, and I heard great things about the other classes from my peers. You have the 3 credit classes for about three hours in the morning and the 1 credit classes anytime in the late afternoon. Class sizes were relatively small and allowed you to engage daily. The professors gave great insight, helped us with any problems, and truly cared about our learning experience. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Everyone was super helpful and got answers to any questions quickly |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
If you are a strong speaker of Spanish, this is a great program for you. Definitely try and know basic phrases/questions. Not many Cubans can speak or understand English, so Spanish knowledge is critical. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I had an incident where I had to go to the hospital during my time. The program administration was extremely helpful and comforting during this process. The medical care system there is fantastic and very professional, so if you are ever in a situation (major or minor), do not be afraid to get the care you need. I would recommend bringing Emergen-C, ibuprofen, and any basic supplies to keep at your apartment. |
| * Safety: |
I never felt unsafe, but I would always recommend walking with at least one other person. |
| 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) |
Things in Cuba are relatively cheap. I brought about 60% of my money in euros and the remaining 40% in US dollars. You can only convert your money to Cuban pesos in Cuba, so watch the exchange rates. Don't exchange all of your money at once, and shop around for prices to make sure you are getting the best deal. |
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 |
Living in Cuba requires knowing a decent amount of Spanish. Even if you are not strong conversationally, you will definitely develop your skills during this program. Try coming in knowing important words/phrases, or you will have a tough time communicating and understanding. |
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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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? | Be prepared for anything |
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 Academic or LinguistYou went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you! |
