The not so glamorous, but much more intriguing side of Israel Past Review
By Rebecca L (N/A, Olin College) for
Arava Institute for Environmental Studies: Hevel Eilot - Study Abroad in Israel
I changed a lot through this experience and I have no regrets. I arrived in Israel wanting to see the "Holy Land," but got much, much more.
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. |
Definitely less rigorous than American higher education, but I loved the field trips incorporated into most of the classes. More PowerPoint lectures than I would have liked, at least the classes were small and personal. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Very approachable and accessible to students. Decisions were made thoughtfully and respectfully even if I didn't agree with all of them. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The dorms are laid out such that four double rooms share a common area. This made for excellent daily interaction with others in your unit. |
| * Food: |
The food is nothing special, so make sure to take advantage of potlucks and events. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The field trips were a highlight of the semester - we witnessed waterfalls in the desert, stayed with Palestinian families in the West Bank, and caught reptiles in sand dunes. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
On the kibbutz, safety is a non-issue. Elsewhere in the region, you just need to have common sense and be aware of your surroundings. |
| 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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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Costs are comparable to U.S. prices. The most money I spent was on travel, and even then my spending was very limited. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | none |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
Most people speak English so it was difficult to practice Hebrew/Arabic. With some personal initiative though, there is definitely the potential to improve your language skills. |
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 do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | If you have any interest at all in the Middle East or the environment, the Arava Institute is an excellent way to experience both. |
