Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Unpredictable adventures through the tropics and around a developing world Past Review

By (Microbiological Sciences and Immunology., University of Wisconsin - Madison) - abroad from 01/10/2012 to 05/18/2012 with

Ceiba Foundation for Tropical Conservation: Tropical Conservation Semester

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I struggled but learned how to become more independent and spend time by myself. I also learned the importance of doing things that you want to do not things that you feel pressured to do. You have to take chances by trying new things.

Personal Information

If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: University of Wisconsin at Madison Universidad de San Francisco de Quito
How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I was always busy doing fascinating activities but it wasn't impossibly difficult.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

My home stay was a great experience

* Food:

meals were subject to host families cooking style

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Program didn't intergrate you at all but I was able to integrate myself by expending lots of energy

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

You were given resources but were on your own to take advantage of them and take care of yourself

* Safety:

Nothing happened to me although I felt relatively unsafe using public transportation but I had to be extremely vigilant at all times

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)

Very cheap

* 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? 50-100

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Advanced
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Fluent
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? several Spanish literature courses
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? Make friends with native people and try to only speak their language.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
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 integration of our courses with the places we visited Marine biology in the galapagos and Terrestrial ecology in the amazon
  • The professors are passionate about what they're teaching. Conservation is vital to our future generations
  • The quality of the courses and the way they were taught
* What could be improved?
  • The integration of language and culture with the academics. Maybe allow local students to apply to the program
  • I wish the participants could be more diverse, maybe from other universities
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Cultural differences between different regions of the United States! The midwest is completely different to the east coast.