Belize: Beautiful and Breathtaking! Past Review
By Ana R (International Business., New Mexico State University) for
Galen University: San Ignacio - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
Yes. I learned how to appreciate the US more. I still want to major in International Business. Visiting Belize has made me want to visit more parts of Central America later in life.
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The workload was less than at my host university. The teaching methods were more personal because class sizes were very small. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Our program coordinator was organized but most of the information that she provided to us was biased. She did not give us a chance to ask many questions. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
We were placed in a resort that was about five miles from downtown of San Ignacio, Belize. This made it very difficult to travel to and from downtown. It was about fifteen miles from where we had class so the location could have been chosen at a closer proximity. Everything was provided to us, such as bedding, tv, minifridge, and kitchen with cookware. |
| * Food: |
We purchased a breakfast plan at the resort but we had to eat dinner in town or make it ourselves. It was difficult to purchase groceries because it was hard to carry groceries from downtown to the resort. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
We visited many Mayan ruins, caves, beaches, islands, and rivers. We were taken on three field trips but we organized about another ten trips by ourselves. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
The country is very safe. I never felt threatened by anyone while I was there. I never traveled alone anywhere. I only got a cold once and it went away quite quickly. I never went to the doctor but my roommate did and she was treated with great healthcare. We did not require any vaccines to visit the country. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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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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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Save about $40 USD during the trip. This is because departure fees are not always included in the airline ticket and you must pay this in USD. |
Language
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Exchange |
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? | Do not expect what you have in the US. Do not compare it to the US because this is when you will feel the most homesick. Enjoy every moment and experience. |
