I loved the experience as an adjunct O.T. professor Past Review
By A student (Utica College) - abroad from 11/28/2016 to 12/09/2016 with
Utica College: Occupational Therapy in the Dominican Republic
I learned how well trained the students from U.C,. are. This year was a stellar group.I having gone in the past felt that we lacked the time at night to regroup and discuss how we felt and also have game nights to get to know everyone better.
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. |
I felt that every activity that we took part in was intense academic rigor. Whether the student decided to jump in and take part in it was up to that student. Personally I felt that the wheeelchair clinic was the most rigorous and most rewarding. I belief that every discipline had a place and opportunity to grow as a person and therapist. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I feel that the students had on-site Utica College faculty with them continaully through out the stay. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I felt that the Hotel worked very hard to provide us with the best services they had. WiFi was a concern at times but the hotel continued to work on improving that service. |
| * Food: |
I love the Dominican's food. Students again were allowed the opportunity to try all styles of their food while on this trip, up to them if they took advan1tage to at least try |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
We were surrounded by therapists, administrators, hotel staff, bus drivers and Carlos who were always integrating us into there culture.I feel that a spainish spealing group would help the students learn the fundamentals to integrate them even more. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I think that having the head of U.C.'s students abroad speak to all students on this issue before we left the states was very helpful and should be continued. |
| * Safety: |
The hotel where we stayed was safe, the rooms all had keys, the bus drivers were very responsible for us all, the clinics all felt safe, and there was always not only U.C. staff but Carlos and his replacement were always watching over the group. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I think the program grows from year to year and learns from what doesn't work and builds on those experiences |
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) |
unbelievable how easy it was to live on our stipend and eat well. I believed it helped that the hotel provided breakfast and the clinics lunch. But the stipend helped in the airport also!!! |
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 |
I think getting students who are interested in a language group using duolingo or a similar program would benefit the students experience. I believe learning a language helps when in a group setting. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| 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? | Duolingo beginner which help me speak minimally but could understand more |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 10+ |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | As I said a Duolingo app would benefit |
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? |
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? | having gone last year I was much better prepared |
