Salvador in Six Months: Living, Learning, Growing Past Review
By Nyamagaga R (African American Studies, Harvard University) for
CIEE: Salvador- Liberal Arts
Yes, it was worthwhile. Not only did I gain invaluable language skills, I made connections with amazing people who taught me that relaxing can help me expand my potential in every part of my life. I learned how to see the world around me just as it is and not take for granted its beauty. I hope I can go back soon and either conduct thesis research or just spend time with the friends I made while I was there. It was warm, it was sunny, it was full of helpful people. I blended in with the people around me (since it's a majority black city) and that just helped me see it more clearly.
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | Universidade Federal da Bahia |
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The professors were generally good. The major problem was that they did not give feedback over the course of the semester, so I did not know what I was doing wrong or how I could improve (I did ask for that type of feedback, to no avail). Course material for the most part was interesting and assignments were usually papers. It was a challenge writing academically in a language while I was learning it but it was all definitely doable and professor's were usually not sticklers on small mistakes foreign students made. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The program and it's directors are wonderful. They are all very much open to talk about concerns and issues that students have. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My host family was excellent. Warm, welcoming, and helpful in the beginning when I was just beginning to settle in. As time went on they gave me the space I needed to explore and participate in activities most of interest to me. |
| * Food: |
Eat as much açaí as you can while you're there. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I began capoeira Angola in Salvador, the birthplace of capoeira. That was a great experience because I made most of my friends at the training studio in Salvador's City Center. That was also a terrific opportunity for me to work out while I was abroad. I took a trip to Chapada Diamantina and got to hike to see some of Salvador's beautiful waterfalls. In Rio I paraglided with the Voo Livre flying club of Rio (specializes in hangliding and paragliding). |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
For the most part I felt pretty safe. I did not tend to go out at night or to really crowded events. |
| 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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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | public transport is more expensive than the CIEE website makes it out to be. You can walk almost everywhere but that is usually not the desirable option. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Portuguese Intermediate Level III |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
Speak as often as possible to as many different people as possible. Don't be shy and if someone doesn't understand you repeat yourself until they do. Sometimes a foreign accent or mumbling can get in the way of someone understanding you fully so speak up. Go to all of your Portuguese language classes because they will benefit you most with building a firm basis for writing and grammar skills as well as safe opportunities to practice speaking. Also, very few people in Salvador speak English as a second language, so the major opportunities for speaking English were with other American students in my program. |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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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?
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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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? | Rio or São Paulo would be easy choices to make when studying abroad. Most people go there anyway, for vacation or work purposes. Salvador exposes you to a side of Brazil you almost never see on post cards. It's a challenge to live there, but in my opinion it's completely worth it. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Oralidade |
| Course Department: | Letras B-31 |
| Instructor: | Licia Heine |
| Instruction Language: | Portuguese |
| Comments: | This course was really badly taught. The professor was all over the place and sometimes took trips unexpectedly in the middle of the semester when she was supposed to be teaching the class. If you're looking for an interesting linguistics course, look elsewhere. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
