Brazil Frustrating Yet Unique Past Review
By Rebecca P (Latin American Studies, Tulane University) for
CIEE: Sao Paulo - Liberal Arts
Yes, I gained confidence in all my studies and met some wonderful people.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Most classes were very helpful. Workload at the end of the semester in some of the PUC classes was a lot but manageable. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Knowledge of some English was needed, but overall fine. Could have had better communication between CIEE and PUC |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Wonderful family that incoportated me into everything. |
| * Food: |
Easy to know if food has gluten because food items must have a label. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Good field trips |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
|
| * Safety: |
I felt very safe yet use caution |
| 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? | 50 US dollars, maybe more |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Expensive for phone cards and metro cards |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 310 |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
|
| Language acquisition improvement? |
Practice at all times and don't use Spanish! |
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 |
|
A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Try to learn the public transportations and always use Portuguese |
