A Program to Forget Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The focus on academic rigor and intensity was inconsistent and misguided, at best. While the Archaeological Methods course (given in Antigua by the graduate students) should have focused on applicable field methodology to be applied at the site, we instead spent too much time reading, reviewing, and discussing articles on archaeological theory. In fact, so much time was devoted to this, that there was often very little time left in any given day to study Spanish, leaving students incapable of communication in the city and at Xultun. Worse, when we weren't aimlessly wasting hours of class time repeating theoretical opinions, we were instructed in archaeological methods by means of cheap toys and foolish games. The prevailing sense was that we were not so much college students in search of professional training, but rather immature children in need of supervision and distraction.

On-site administration of your program

Administration was entirely lacking. If there had been any administration, it was conducted secretively and without an understanding on behalf of the participant students. If any problems arose, they were best solved on one's own, as the "program director" was absent more often than not and the graduate students hired by the university were of little or no help.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

If it were possible to provide a rating lower than 1/2 star for this category, I would without hesitation. Unfortunately, during my time in the program, I was confronted by a couple of medical issues. The first, and most noteworthy, was a sudden onset of severe lightheadedness one night in Antigua. After calling to receive a ride to the hospital, I waited a good while for a local associate of the program to come by and drive me, only to learn that he was heavily intoxicated--he drove regardless. Once at the hospital, a grad student provided translation, though there remainded constant miscommunication. Afterwards, the issue of payment haunted me for the next 3 months, despite having the recommended traveler's insurance.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

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

Select all that apply

• Other
• Host Family

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• Americans
• Host Family

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• Other

• The cultural experiences in Antigua
• My first Spanish instructor in Antigua
• Its early ending date

• The professionalism of the BU staff participants
• Communication on the part of the BU staff participants
• Organization of the program specifics