Past Review
By Annalisa (Latin American Studies & Spanish, Tulane University) for
CIEE: Salvador- Liberal Arts
Yes, it was worthwhile. I learned a lot about Brazil and a lot of Portuguese that I would not have learned otherwise. I think I also gained some independence.
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | Universidade do Salvador & Universidade Federal da Bahia |
| The term and year this program took place: | Fall 2008 |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The classes were interesting for someone who studies Brazil; I enjoyed them all. The teachers were all flexible and understood the extra challenges being an exchange student creates. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Jefferson, Flavia and Matt were such a great resource throughout the semester. I think everyone asked for their insight on one issue or another. They're all very friendly and eager to help. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived in a great neighborhood and in a very nice house. I was right next to a mall, a grocery store, a bus stop, and a taxi stand. The beach was just a few minutes away. |
| * Food: |
I'm a vegetarian, so dealing with food abroad could have been quite a problem, but my host family was particularly accommodating. They prepared special foods for me, and we went out to eat every now and then. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Salvador is a fun city if you like to party. It's just hard getting to know people that you feel you can trust. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
The CIEE staff was always helpful when students got sick, and my host family in particular was very attentive, and I know they would have taken care of me if I had gotten sick. However, Salvador is a DANGEROUS city. Everyone I know (American or Brazilian) has been robbed on the streets at least once. We all learned to carry the very minimum with us (no purses, no jewelry, no cameras). Having to constantly be afraid of getting robbed can be stressful. |
| 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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | I really don't know. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | None |
Language
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
By the end of the program, most people assumed I was Brazilian while speaking to me until I told them otherwise. Spending six months speaking Portuguese all the time definitely paid off. However, some other students didn't improve nearly as much, so I guess it just depends on the person. |
Other Program Information
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* Who did you take classes 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? | The best type of student for this program is honestly a party person. Brazil focuses on nightlife. Dancing and drinking are staple activities, so just consider if that's what you want to spend 6 months doing. |
