Not just a communist country: Cuba will change the way you view the world. Past Review
By Miriam P (History and Literature, Harvard University) for
Harvard University: Havana - DRCLAS Program in Cuba
100%
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. |
I learned a ton!Just being apart of the university was a fantastic insight into the way things work in Cuba. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
In Cuba it is often difficult to organize things, but our faculty advisor was always open and helpful. Things are never as organized or punctual as they are in the US, but things do get done. The program size was great, and I have zero regrets about having gone to Cuba. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The housing was organized for us. The location was good, in a safe area relatively near to the center. The university is about a 20 minute walk away, the ocean about 10 minutes. |
| * Food: |
Lots of pork. Lots of rice. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Cubans know how to enjoy life, despite economic/political difficulties. I saw so many amazing dance shows, plays, concerts. The theater and film festivals were wonderful. (and everything is soooo cheap). |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Easy to walk around. You have to be a little bit careful at night, but that's about it. The healthcare system was great, and of course, free. |
| 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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Lunch is under $2 a day. The most money I spent was on going out- perhaps about $5-7 on an average night. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | -- |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | advanced |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
Everyone! People do not speak very much English. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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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? | Be ambitious, excited, ready to be challenged, puzzle about the world and its problems, your problems, society's problems. Cuba will change the way you see the world and your life. It's wonderful. No regrets at all. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
History of Cuba |
| Course Department: | Sociology Year 1 |
| Instructor: | Leidy Abreu |
| Instruction Language: | Spanish |
| Comments: | Great overview of Cuban history from the beginning. Was a great course to take while I was in Cuba. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
| Course Name/Rating: |
History of Cuban Culture |
| Course Department: | History Year 3 |
| Instructor: | Pitaluga |
| Instruction Language: | |
| Comments: | Awesome lecturer. Fun compliment to Cuban history and literature classes |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
