Fun Past Review

By (Anthropology, Religious Studies, The College of William and Mary) - abroad from 07/03/2012 to 08/03/2012 with

William and Mary: Holetown - Summer Barbados Field Program

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was worthwhile. I gained independence and more insight as to what I want to do after college. I also gained a hands on archaeological experience, which was rewarding.

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 was good hands on work, but did not learn as much as I though I would about archaeology. I wish we had supplemented our field work with actual class.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Our advisor did work with us at the site but he was not always there to teach us and we would have to stop what we were doing to search for him, so maybe if we weren't as spread out at the site he could have been more available instead of spreading himself out amongst all of us over a very large space

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Right next to a highway so VERY noisy and very hard to sleep

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Culture was definitely the highlight of this trip! Our professor did a very good job of introducing us to locals and local culture and traditions.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I got a stomach bug while on my program and my professor took me to the doctor immediately and waited for me the whole time, which was very nice. The actual doctor was fine, like any sort of med express/patient first here, but very expensive because of lack of insurance. I had the insurance card that the Reeves center provided but the doctor office did not accept it, so I ended up having to pay around $100.

* Safety:

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)

I think that everyone on my trip ended up spending a lot more on food than anticipated. Lunch and breakfast were provided but not on the weekends so we spent a lot of money on groceries, but most money was spent on transportation because we had to take the bus every day to get to the work site and on the weekends had to take cabs and buses everywhere.

* Was housing included in your program cost? Yes
* Was food included in your program cost? Yes
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $150

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* 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?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Getting to know people that went on the trip
  • Being immersed in local culture
* What could be improved?
  • More instruction/structure
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? A proper amount of money to bring/be prepared to spend.