I came, I experienced, I learned. Past Review
By Renata T E (The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 01/02/2015 to 04/25/2015 with
CIEE: Santiago - Liberal Arts, Dominican Republic
I learned a great deal about how history can shape people's interactions with one another. (Dominican-Haitian Relations). I felt it was worthwhile.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
It certainly wasn't as intense as a semester at UT is, but it did have its challenges because of the language barrier. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The program coordinator seemed pretty inexperienced with covering all the bases for all of our trips in terms of safety and because of this there were times were our safety was at risk. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I loved my host mom. She was very welcoming, open-minded and accepting of me and my differences. |
| * Food: |
I'm not sure about the diets for other families, but my host mom ate very healthy so I ate healthy and I was very grateful for that. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I lived with a host family and attended classes with the locals. We were also taken to local events and were given the ability to do exploration on our own. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I did not have any health issues, but the healthcare was easily accessible because there was a clinic on campus. The program was very open to talk about any and all health issues because they wanted to ensure we were taken care of. The main health issues for the american students was probably stomach issues (like diarrhea) getting used to the food outside of our homes. In the homes, the host family was diligent about ensuring all foods were fresh and safe to eat. One note though is they say public hospitals are where you go to die and private hospitals are where you go to get better, so don't go to public hospitals if you can help it. |
| * Safety: |
I was robbed twice in two different cities in the DR and pickpocketed once at this huge market on the border of the DR and Haiti. I also knew of 3 other American students that were robbed in the city we were living in. Please don't walk around by yourself in the evenings, especially with anything valuable on you. Theft is pretty serious there because they are an underdeveloped country with a high unemployment rate and people are trying to survive. Women, it is best you place money, credit cards, phones, etc in your bra if you can, (just being real). Guys put stuff in your socks. Also, pay attention to your surroundings. |
| 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) |
|
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Each week I would say maybe $10-$20 on snacks or food away from home. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | It should be pretty easy to save money for things you really want to spend money on, (like whale watching, traveling to some beaches, purchasing art, etc) because your parents do everything else for you with what they've been paid from your financial aid. |
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? | Intermediate |
| 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? | advanced |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 10+ |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Watch spanish films with subtitles, listen to music, DEFINITELY talk to spanish speakers (Please! Listening and communicating will get you much farther than reading and writing when outside of school.) |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
| 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? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I wish I knew how to better communicate in Spanish. |
