IFSA Butler Havana Cuba Past Review
By A student (Wellesley College) - abroad from 08/31/2017 to 12/16/2017 with
IFSA: Havana - Study Abroad at the Universidad de La Habana
I learned a lot about my limits, my skills, and gained a lot of confidence -- in addition to Spanish skills!
Personal Information
How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Classes directly enrolled in the University were phenomenal, an excellent window into many aspects of life and history in Cuba. The Core Course was lacking, but IFSA took a lot of feedback on it and is aware of the issues we had. |
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Michelle and Rose Ana could not have been better, I'm so happy to have met them and could trust them at all points of my experience. |
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Perfect living situation, feel so lucky to have lived with a host family |
* Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I found it harder to connect with Cuban students due to few fall activities, but had access to a plethora of cultural events targeted to locals, which i really enjoyed |
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Healthcare in Cuba is really accessible to students abroad. When I was bitten by a dog I received excellent care through my rabies series and felt very safe. |
* Safety: |
Just like in any city, keep your wits about you. |
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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) |
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Language
* Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
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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? | 200 |
How many hours per day did you use the language? | 10+ |
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Make sure to practice with the other students on your program to get skills speaking casually and socially |
Other Program Information
* 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? | The best way to learn is to get out of your comfort zone and ask people questions! Don't be afraid to make mistakes speaking a foreign language -- it's worth it to have incredible interactions. |