It was a lot of fun and very educational! Opened my eyes to different issues. Past Review
By Kim H (Elementary Education, St. Cloud State University) for
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU): Port Elizabeth - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
This experience opened by eyes to the issues the children in the townships deal with on a daily basis. By working at the homework club I got to talk to the children and some of them spoke of a death of a family member or a community member. It also opened my eyes to some of the racial issues South Africa still deals with today.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
It was more work than I thought but learned a lot. Showed me a new way of how school systems are run. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
have single rooms instead of doubles. other than that it was pretty much a great experience. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
We lived in a flat. One thing that was weird was everyone that paid for a double room pretty much got a single room other than me and my roommate. We were the only one's at the accommodation not given a single which was unfair since the rest of our group got singles but paid for doubles. There will need to be better communication between the abroad offices and the accommodation offices on what would be best for the students. It might be better to only offer single rooms for that particular accommodation. Its too much for two people to live in that room or have the students get to know each other a little better since they don't know who they will be rooming with. Overall in the accommodation we really weren't expose to many Xhosa speakers within but we were exposed to the languages of the other international students which was fun! |
| * Food: |
Don't take too much back with you unless you plan of spending money for a mini bus. can become a long walk if you have too much stuff |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The mini buses were the best for cultural experiences. Every bus had a different feel to it and it was fun being surrounded by the Xhosa speakers. The best field trip was probably to the farm where we got to ride to the top of a mountain, milk some cows, and gather the sheep together. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
there were quiet a few break ins and the students were blamed for a lot of it when more than half the students that didn't have cars had the garage keys and the others had the keys to the cage. |
| 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? | around maybe $100-$200 dollars. depended on the week. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | look into trips you want to take and make sure you have the money to go on the trips and know you would like to go on the trips. also be aware of meeting international friends and traveling with them. |
Language
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | It was a 200 level class called Women in Africa |
| 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?
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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? | Anyone who would like to learn of other cultures and are very open minded should do this program. You are can't go into it closed minded. You have to be willing to get to know the locals and see where they come from. Learn about their story |
