South Africa: An Incredible Experience with some program short-comings Past Review
By A student () for
CIEE: Cape Town - Arts and Sciences
Absolutely. While i have a lot of criticisms, it was one of the most wonderful things i have ever done. What I learned, in and out of school, cannot even be summarized here. I learned so much history, culture, music, and life lessons. Meeting new people, from a different lifestyle is a gift, and an important experience. It truly is life-changing.
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Hated the university. It was too big. Adjusting to the size was overwhelming. I hated the British system that the university was based on, which emphasized rigor and test-taking. It was impersonal, and i was constantly writing essays that counted for a small percentage of my overall grade. I felt the education system was tedious and painstaking. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Very accommodating. But i felt that it tried to "sell" the "african experience" to a bunch of kids who cared more about partying than actually immersing themselves in a new culture. Putting 150 americans into apartments with each other seems counterproductive to the study abroad experience. I think this was a major flaw to the program, and contributed greatly to my discontent with being associated with CIEE. Had I not been in a dorm, I think I would have been very disappointed. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I would strongly advise against living in a CIEE house because it prevents students from really meeting Africans. Liesbeeck Garden dorms were great. The Jammie (Shuttle bus) goes right into the parking lot, so it's incredibly convenient, and its a short walk from the train station, main street, and grocery store. |
| * Food: |
Food is fresh and cheap. Try not to eat out too often, it adds up. MUST. GO. TO. MZOLI's |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Oceanview homestay was by far one of the most memorable parts of the trip for me. I went back to visit my family. |
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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? |
No
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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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Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Students considering this program should think long and hard about the fact that they will be attending an extremely large institution, highly different from Clark. And they will be forced to comply with an extremely bureaucratic and impersonal education system. Try to take three courses, if possible. Four was a lot for me, because I had to write a lot of essays. Students must understand that there is a chance that they could be placed in an all-american apartment (the majority of CIEE students do so). Home-stays and dorms are a more abroad experience. Most students who choose to do a home-stay do get it. They need to think long and hard about what they want to get out of their experience. |
