Taiwan--Loved it!! Past Review
By Elizabeth W (Nursing., Brigham Young University) - abroad from 04/27/2012 to 05/05/2012 with
Brigham Young University: Traveling - Taiwan Nursing Study Abroad
People all over the world are kind and genuine--American culture is not the "best" culture. These people are wonderful!
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. |
Not very difficult as far as assignments; we did the assignments in 2 hours, one day a week. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The Taiwanese nurses were absolutely amazing. Not much hands-on experience in the PICU, but the Community nurses really let us do a lot of skills. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Cannot improve on the housing. It is free, close to the hospital, and you live with 4 girls to a room. With orange sheets! |
| * Food: |
Some of it was pretty wild, but the experience and pics are worth it. There is also the most amazing fried chicken, dumplings, and juices. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Such kind, welcoming people. And the Asian culture is so vastly different from the American culture that the whole experience is life-changing. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I had an infection and was treated at the hospital. My nurse was so kind, and she stayed with me for the whole appointment (and all the nurses and doctors speak English). I was treated with Western medicine--the exact care I would have gotten in Provo. |
| * Safety: |
I was never worried about being robbed--Taiwan is a very safe country. But I was worried about being run over my a mo-ped. |
| 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) |
We spent as much as we wanted, and we each got 500 American dollars back at the end of the trip. |
| * 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? | 15 US dollars (mostly gifts) |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Keep track of your money, but don't be too stingy-you won't run out, and you will probably get money back at the end. Also, when it comes to weekend trips, stay in hostels--they are dirt cheap, way nice, and such an adventure! |
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 |
There is no need to really speak the language for communication purposes-the nurses speak English. But the nurses think you are smarter if you learn some Chinese phrases, and they will let you do more! |
| 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 |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | About 3 hours of Taiwan prep class. |
| 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? | Learn the numbers, hello, thank you, and goodbye. Beautiful and I love you are also good catch phrases. That is probably enough for your patients to think that you are cute because you are trying. |
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? | That I should speak Chinese more to my nurses--they equate speaking Chinese for us with being smart, and intellect is very important to them. Also, tell the nurses your GPA (straight A's!) and they will let you do more. |
