Best Semester of my College Career! Past Review

By (Public Health Administration, Indiana University - Bloomington) - abroad from 01/08/2008 to 04/25/2008 with

CIEE: Santiago - Liberal Arts, Dominican Republic

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Learned a lot about Dominican and Haitian Culture. Improved my Spanish x100 while exploring a beautiful island. Learned a lot about my own culture and how it differed from others. Absolutely worthwhile!

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Living with a host family and interacting with the estudiantes de apoyo really helped with integration.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I had experience with the school health clinic. I got an eye infection and was seen there and given a prescription to fill at the local pharmacy. Very easy and super cheap prescription.

* Safety:

As long as you used basic common sense there wasn't any reason you should feel anything but safe. I always felt safe.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Finances

* 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)

Your host family feeds you and provides housing etc. So it is as expensive or cheap as you make it.

Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Budget. Its easy to get caught up in going out and eating out all the time.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

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? Intermediate
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Spanish 250
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? Don't be afraid to mess up or make mistakes.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
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?
  • The Culture and People
  • The excursions
  • The Food
* What could be improved?
  • Head up on how fast Dominicans speak
  • Advising for credit transfer when you return and need to register for classes
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I would've taken a grammar class at IU or been at a little higher level of spanish before I went abroad. Also, I would've stayed for a year instead of a semester.

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 Nearly Native or Trail Blazer
Craving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.'