Bachata, Marangue, Sun, and Fun in Santiago de los Caballeros Past Review
By Heather W (Sociology and Spanish, Clark University - Worcester) - abroad from 08/20/2012 to 12/16/2012 with
CIEE: Santiago - Liberal Arts
so much about dominican culture and living and learning in a foreign culture. Independence and the dominican lifestyle of valueing friends and loved ones. Great and very worthwhile.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Classes are pretty easy. Learned a lot about the DR and spanish. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Staff was great and very helpful with everything! |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Could not have been happier with living arrangements here. 5 mins from campus right at public transport, amazing and loving family. |
| * Food: |
Yummy food. Families tend to accomodate likes and dislikes well. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Can be hard to make Dominican friends but the culture is super interesting and fun. Be outgoing and you will have a great experience with the people and the culture here! |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I felt safe. Taxi's are very affordable so it made going out at night easy and safe. |
| 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) |
its easier to manage then living at home and all food is provided. Only costs are really going out and traveling |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $20 inless i traveled. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | No--its an easy place to travel on a budget |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
encouraged but sometimes hard to enforce |
| 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? | first advanced level |
| 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? | talk to your family! volunteer! make dominican friends! become friends with estudiantes de apoyo! |
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?
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| 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? |
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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? | take a class with all domincans that is an academic class |
