PARENT OF CSU NORTHRIDGE STUDENT LOVES THE TANZANIA PROGRAM Past Review
By Judi Marshall (Parent Reviews of Study Abroad) - abroad from 02/01/2018 to 04/28/2018 with
IPSL: Tanzania - Global Health, Women's Health & Human Rights
As a parent I got to experience my daughter's amazing growth. After her semester ended I met her in Tanzania and got to live with her host family for the weekend before taking my daughter on safari and seeing the Country. It was such a joy to be welcomed as part of her extended family and really get a taste of the amazing semester she had.
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. |
My daughter truly enjoyed learning about the country/culture she was experiencing and the educators made the subjects relevant to both life in Tanzania and in the United States. Intro to Swahili was especially helpful for traveling around Tanzania and weekly trips to the store/market place. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Evans was AMAZING!!!! a teacher, mentor, counselor and big brother rolled into one. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Living with Mama Rose was so warm and comforting for my daughter. While we missed each other, my initial worry about her living in another country so far away was immediately quashed upon hearing her share how warm, welcoming and loving Mama Rose and her family were. Mama Rose and her family opened not just their home but their hearts to her and really cared for her as if she was another daughter, including her in family celebrations, taking her to weddings, and making sure she was safe at all times. As a parent I couldn't have asked for more. |
| * Food: |
My daughter is a vegetarian and Mama Rose tried out all sorts of new vegetarian recipes the family got to enjoy together. At no time did my daughter have trouble meeting her nutritional needs or enjoying a multitude of traditional dishes! |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
My daughter and the other student in the program enjoyed the night life, shopping at the open air markets, and traveling both in and out of the Country experiencing everything from safaris to animal conservation and relaxing in Zanzibar on the beach. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
|
| * Safety: |
Before my daughter left I will admit safety was my biggest concern. Between her in-country advisor and her host family nothing was left to chance. There were taxi drivers vetted by her advisor so she knew who to contact if a ride was needed, and her host family made sure she was safe in their community and aware of any areas to avoid. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
As a parent I encouraged my daughter to study abroad but I had no idea how AMAZNG the program through IPSL would be or how impactful on my daughter's outlook on life, her goals, and appreciation for what she can strive to accomplish in the States. |
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? | The amount varied depending on excursions. |
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 |
My daughter practiced her Swahili daily and really felt the more she tried to learn/use if the more encouraging and welcoming everyone she met became. They could see from how hard she was trying that being part of the community was important to her. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Intermediate |
| 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? | Ask your host family to spend time with you each day where no English is spoken. |
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 |
|
| 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? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | As a parent I feel IPSL did everything possible to prepare me for my daughter's semester abroad because what she gained being in Tanzania can not be expressed adequately in words, it has to be experienced!! My daughter now knows that she can wear an outfit more than once and not to over pack on her next trip! |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
