Que Viva La Republica Dominicana Past Review
By Danyeal R (Spanish, DePauw University) for
CIEE: Santiago - Liberal Arts, Dominican Republic
After this program, I can honestly say that I am graduating with a well-rounded Spanish language and cultural experience.
Personal Information
| 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 outside of the classroom experiences supplemented whatever I lacked in the classroom. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The leaders were all so open and knowledgable. The off campus activities were amazing and planned out so well. The living arrangements were great. And safety was never an issue-- if we had a night class they would send a taxi for us. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
i lived very close to the center of town. there were bars, clubs, restaurants, stores and parks all within walking distance. My host mom let my friend who visited me stay in her home, and I was very close with everyone. It's all about speaking up and being honest. I told them that I didn't want to be waited on hand and foot, and that I wanted to be integrated and that's what I did. |
| * Food: |
I am a vegetarian and my family did their best to accommodate that restriction. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
i went to a protest in the capital where we slept in a park all night with concerts and speakers in protest of homelessness |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
don't carry a lot of money on you. don't carry your laptop with you. don't walk alone at night, and if you do, walk in the middle of the street. etc. |
| 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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Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
Although I was fluent before the trip, I spoke the language with my host family, the directors, professors, and friends. |
| 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?
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? | Honestly, don't have expectations, and let life happen. This is an amazingly complex country and if all you do is take notes or look through a camera lens... you'll miss the magic. |
