ASAP: Best Experience of My Life; Life Changing Past Review
By C. A (Marketing, University of Dayton) for
Marist College: Traveling - Asia Study Abroad Program (ASAP)
It was an AMAZING experience that changed my life and actually changed the course of my entire life. Having never traveled abroad prior to my participation in ASAP, traveling to countries/areas like Myanmar, Tibet, Singapore, etc. was an eye-opening experience (to say the least). ASAP changed how I viewed the world, how I viewed my place in the world and how I viewed my country (the US) in the world. To this day (as a practicing attorney at a large corporation), I still use the experiences gained from ASAP in my day to day practice (e.g. drawing on research conducted to inform my negotiations with Japanese and Asian suppliers). Participating in ASAP also served me well when applying to law school programs and finding other international opportunities (e.g., I clerked at a Thai law firm one summer after ASAP). I can't say enough about how wonderful the program has been for me, and wish that everyone could have the same experience.
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. |
It was an AMAZING experience that changed my life and actually changed the course of my entire life. Having never traveled abroad prior to my participation in ASAP, traveling to countries/areas like Myanmar, Tibet, Singapore, etc. was an eye-opening experience (to say the least). ASAP changed how I viewed the world, how I viewed my place in the world and how I viewed my country (the US) in the world. To this day (as a practicing attorney at a large corporation), I still use the experiences gained from ASAP in my day to day practice (e.g. drawing on research conducted to inform my negotiations with Japanese and Asian suppliers). Participating in ASAP also served me well when applying to law school programs and finding other international opportunities (e.g., I clerked at a Thai law firm one summer after ASAP). I can't say enough about how wonderful the program has been for me, and wish that everyone could have the same experience. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The program was very well organized. They were very efficient and effective in: - getting all of our visas taken care of for the eight countries we visited - helping us to get acquainted with our host city (Bangkok) and teaching us (in a very fun way!) how to navigate the public transportation system (by the end of the summer I had the confidence to navigate any public transportation system in the world, e.g. London, Paris, NYC, etc.) The program coordinators were very knowledgeable about the region, and also well connected to local business persons. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
During my year, we stayed in apartments within a luxury hotel. It was AWESOME! |
| * Food: |
Asian food - need I say more! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Some favorite memories: - interacting with Burmese kids along some dirt road - watching local Burmese (that lived in the country) marvel at the workings of a digital camera - elephant rides in the northern part of Thailand - visiting the Killing Fields monument and museum in Cambodia - crawling through the underground tunnels used in the Vietnam war - riding the bullet train in Japan - cheap and wonderful massages |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Very safe. Be sure to research the required vaccines for the country. |
| 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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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 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? | DO IT! DO IT! DO IT! It is expensive, but given the amount of coursework covered in the summer, you should be able to get financial aid, as if it were simply another semester/quarter. |
