Definitely an experience I would love to do again Past Review
By Natasha G (International and Global Studies, African and Afro-American Studies, Brandeis University) - abroad from 01/19/2014 to 05/18/2014 with
CIEE: Dakar - Language & Culture
I learned the usual things about yourself that you learn while traveling, but in particular who I am as a person under stress. This was mostly to do with my lower level of French. I gained a few good friends that I still talk to, both Senegalese and American, and a better understanding of Western African politics, environment, people, and way of life.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The academics weren't very rigorous, but that's pretty standard for study abroad programs. There was a lot of classroom time though, which detracted from exploring the city and other things like that. In terms of resources, there is a computer lab that is open almost all day and a printer/copier/scanner. The readings were either available in the upstairs library room or sent to students from the professors. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The orientation was a little long and got to be redundant by the end, but in general during the semester someone was always there to help with any problems that occurred. I stayed in Dakar for the summer and the directors and staff helped me with all kinds of things even after the program ended. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I loved my host family and even stayed with them when I prolonged my time for the summer. |
| * Food: |
The food is hit-or-miss. You get used to the generalities of Senegalese cuisine and either stay uninterested and eat out a lot or come to love almost everything like I did. You receive a stipend for water (since you shouldn't drink it from the pipes at first or at all) and for "snacks" (which turns out to be fruits and vegetables more often than not since the cuisine isn't overflowing with either. The study center has a rooftop restaurant that has pretty good sandwiches and a plat du jour and there are a bunch of places to eat in Mermoz near the school. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I was definitely an American study abroad student the entire time, which was fine. Don't expect to come here and be Senegalese because that's almost impossible to do in any place. Cultural oddities pop up on either side, language barriers abound, and in general you make do and have a great time laughing things off. Most people in Dakar are nice enough that you feel welcome anyway. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I never had a problem with health-related things, but the times when people did they seemed to be taken care of. Vaccines are definitely important along with having malaria pills. You can buy those in Dakar but they're more expensive than in the US. And there are pharmacies on almost every corner if you need something over the counter. |
| * Safety: |
There were a few safety concerns, but I think that has more to do with being in a big city than in being in Senegal. Keep your things close and bring a suitcase lock for any valuables you're leaving in your house on long trips but don't be too concerned. Act like you're living in NY and you'll be fine. |
| 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) |
I shopped way too much but if you're not going to the richer parts of the city for clubbing every weekend or taking a taxi everywhere you can live on a very small amount of money. Bargaining helps a lot too but remember to keep a good attitude and vendors will be more inclined to give you a better price. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | ~$10-$20 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Think about the things that are most important for you (eating out versus shopping versus clubbing versus traveling) and budget on a sliding scale. You get a stipend every 2 weeks that rounds out to about $30 for snacks, transportation to and from CIEE, and water, but you can use it for whatever you want. |
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 |
Just being in a Francophone city requires you to use French and especially living with host families that may or may not speak English. But Wolof and other languages spoken in the region are also used by a lot of people. I would say Wolof and is as useful as French for getting by in Dakar. But you can get by really well with a good amount of French and knowing some key Wolof phrases. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Third semester of university |
| 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? | Talk with your host families more, don't hang out exclusively with the other study abroad kids, melange Wolof and French and you'll learn more of both. |
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? | I wish I'd known how cold it is in Dakar until about April. It gets COLD at night and even sometimes during the day. The weather is nowhere near northeast US winter, but make sure you bring a few sweaters and pairs of pants for the first few months. |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
