Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

The best experience of my life. Past Review

By (Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other, University of Missouri - Columbia) - abroad from 08/25/2014 to 11/19/2014 with

Africa Our Home (AOH): Discover Togo - International Development Internships and Service Learning

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Discover-Togo placed me in Blitta’s Regional District Hospital working eight hours a day, five days a week, for three months. The hospital was amazing; I have never learned so much in my life. After the first few weeks of the staff feeling me out, they threw me into the work. I am not saying everywhere or everyone will have the same opportunity as me but I was helping deliver babies, putting in IV’s, testing for HIV and malaria, drawing blood, and performing injections. To say I was overwhelmed would be underplaying, but I was also on a high. DT allowed me to figure out what my strengths and weakness are because of the work I was performing. I truly found myself amongst all the tribulations of language barriers, making relationships, and earning the trust of others.

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.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

The food was extremely hard for me but that is because I am a picky eater anyways.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Another strong attribute about DT is that they pick the smartest, most trusting individuals for the participant to be around. At the time, I was frustrated with the lack of freedom when it came to having a social atmosphere. In the States, people come and go. You hang out with friends whether they are male or female, but the social aspect in Africa is completely different. I did not understand this until I reflected on my experience and looking back, I have the utmost respect for DT because of whom they allowed me to interact with and whom they didn’t. Their focus is a hundred percent on the participant’s safety and wellbeing.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

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)

Because I paid for everything up front, at the time it felt like money wasn't an issue.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? N/A

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

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? Beginner
How many hours per day did you use the language?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Hotel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Other
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Other
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?
  • The program administration walked me through the entire process of getting adjusted and acclimated.
  • We built trust and formed a friendship that blossomed into a father-daughter type relationship, which is a rare thing that not many individuals get to experience.
  • DT is that they pick the smartest, most trusting individuals for the participant to be around.
* What could be improved?
  • The food was one of the hardest parts for me but there is not much changing that could be made.
  • Learning about the cultural before arriving or during orientation. The do's and dont's, I learned the hard way.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? No matter how many times you go overseas there will always be something that you wish you would have brought or known ahead of time. It is all a learning game. The only thing I would have liked to be more prepared on is the language aspect. Everything else, Discover-Togo, prepared me for before I arrived.