Dominican Republic: Discovering Myself and Learning of Others Past Review
By Molly M (Biology, Spanish, Luther College) for
ISA Study Abroad in Santiago, Dominican Republic
Completely. I feel as though I gained a better understanding of myself. I now feel as though I can do anything I set my mind to and that I am in the right career path. My experience abroad helped me to realize what I am capable of and that other cultures have so much to offer! I grew up so much on my trip abroad.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Everything was great! Things would be done on time, the education system was very similar to the U.S., but there wasn't quite as much emphasis on grading, more on understanding. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I felt very safe, along with my host family, I knew most of my neighbors and they were all helpful and protective of me. My host family became my second family and I already miss them very much. I know I will return someday to see them again. |
| * Food: |
My host mom could have been a chef. Everything she prepared was done flawlessly and she always made sure I was well fed and that I had things I liked. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I love how Dominicans value family and friendships. I loved that everyone hangs out outside and interacts with each other. It was difficult at times to become used to the culture in the Dominican as I was a blonde, white girl, so I recieved a lot of cat calls and advances on the street. Still, overall I loved the Dominican! |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I did get robbed while abroad. People could obviously see that I was American, so my best advice would be to try to blend in as much as you can. The city of Santiago is very busy and there definitely are some situations that could be dangerous. I'd advise future students just to use their best judgement in circumstances where they feel uncomfortable and to try to be with a buddy as much as possible. |
| 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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Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
Host family, friends, study abroad advisors, teachers, etc. It would have been extremely difficult to study here without some Spanish background, or at least the understanding that only Spanish will be used. It was rare for me to speak English with Dominicans. |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | You must be an open person, ready to respect different culture. You also must be willing to speak Spanish and ready to interact with people. The Dominican is a beautiful place with such wonderful people. Open your eyes and your heart to this new world and you will definitely be rewarded in so many ways! |
