Tenerife was the best cultural and healthcare exposure I've ever experienced Past Review
By Babeck E (Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology., Pacific University) - abroad from 06/21/2014 to 07/27/2014 with
Atlantis: Pre-med Fellowship Abroad
Overall this trip has been a wonderful experience. The personal and professional relationships that I have made on this trip have been incredible and are sure to last a lifetime. I am honestly shocked with the compatibility between our group's different personalities and behaviors. Befriending local residents, other fellows, and the doctors I work with has expanded my vision for the world in a cultural perspective. I came to this island not knowing a lick of Spanish, and after week 5, I can say that I am able to adequately communicate with the doctors I work with in Spanish just from repetitive exposure. The weeks get to be quite overwhelming but being an accelerated five week program, sucking it up becomes worth it. Most of the excursions have been great with the views and cultural exposure we get from them. Obviously it can get overwhelming at times as well, given that our weeks are packed with hospital and base5, but these times are what builds character. The level of independence on this internship really forces the fellows to act up to a respectable level of maturity as well. With all the good, some bad comes along with it. As noted, the issue with the food as been resolved to a reasonable compromise. I understand it is difficult to accommodate 25+ peoples preferences so I will say it has been resolved to the best of its ability which I appreciate. Sometimes I wish I had at least one day a week to sleep in. I understand that the excursions are optional but when they are available, I feel the obligation to attend! The coordinators have been great for the most part, with the occasional mood swings and attitudes but we are all humans, not robots and are all subject to emotions at some point or another so I understand. Besides this, it has been a great experience! I love the team of doctors I work with in the maxillofacial department and the people I am surrounded by! I have learned so much being here.
Review Photos
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. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I loved living in a dorm with other Spanish students. It was incredible for cultural experience and I was able to make awesome friends! |
| * Food: |
You can find anything to eat in Tenerife that will satisfy your cravings. The group dinners were great and were of quality. I enjoyed that the program exposed us to cultural foods as well. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Integration was as good as it gets for me. I made friends with many of the local students and I was living there as if I was a local, therefore most of the time I was treated with their culture in mind. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I injured my knee at one point during the trip. The coordinators were great and personally took me to a clinic in which my abroad insurance covered, and got me checked out and taken care of. |
| * Safety: |
I would say it is much safer there than in the United States. Never did I once feel threatened walking around the streets of Tenerife in the night or day. |
| 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) |
I personally ate out a lot and did as much activities around the town as I could! Therefore I was spending about 70 Euros a week during most weeks. If you want to budget minimally, its completely doable. I just chose not to. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 100 US dollars |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Don't eat out so much and don't eat at expensive restaurants. You can easily find meals between 3-5 Euros. Limit outside activities if money is an issue. |
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 |
The coordinators and students always tried to speak with us in Spanish, which I enjoyed. The doctors at the hospital mostly all only spoke Spanish, with only a few that could speak English. I really enjoyed this, because I was able to integrate myself into the culture, and learn Spanish at the same time. |
| 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? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | None |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Force yourself to speak whatever language is spoken at your abroad location. Order food in the language, speak with locals, etc. This is the best way to learn in my opinion. |
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? | I wish that I knew that we would only go on group meals only once a week. I also wish I knew that there is no refrigerator where we stayed. Besides that, I expected most things the way they were. |
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 Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
