Exposure, Culture, , Beautiful, Adventure, Experiential Learning.... Past Review
By Taryn D (Siena College) - abroad from 08/15/2011 to 12/04/2011 with
CGEE: Windhoek - Nation-Building, Globalization, and Decolonizing the Mind
www.taryninafrica.wordpress.com
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. |
For me with limited abroad experience it was a fantastic challenge, but for those who had had more experience abroad I sensed some boredom. Then again you put into the courses what you wanted to get out of it....Great readings, great discussions were generated, professors were open, honest, and challenged us to think beyond...Many great outside of the classroom opportunities...Graded assignments were relatively easy....some research....some reflections.....creative projects with limited guidelines to create freedom to explore.... |
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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? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| 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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| * 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? | Didn't need to, but only did if I wanted to |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Save money for the the semester break trip....$500 to $1000 |
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 |
Took a class a week to learn a language for our rural home stay....Was not a necessity in most cases, but cool to learn and use |
| 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? | low....but after a week spending time with native speakers of Oshiwambo I was amazed at how much of the language I learned and used....St |
| 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? | Not necessary to practice ahead of time...you won't truly learn it until you spend the time there.... |
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? | .... |
