Rotary Youth Exchange Program to Chile Past Review
By Alex L (Biology, Carleton College) for
Rotary Youth Exchange: Worldwide
YES. My mind has been significantly opened to other points of view, and I now have a much fuller understanding of the Latin American culture.
Review Photos
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. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I was SO lucky! I had opportunities to go to Patagonia to see the Torres del Paine National Park and the extreme south, go to Peru and visit Machu Picchu, and even climb a volcano! |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| 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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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Be frugal! |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Spanish 205 |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
Almost no one spoke English, so it was complete immersion in the language and culture--this is what I felt I REALLY learned from the experience, more than the academic portion. |
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 do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I highly recommend participating in an exchange program and studying abroad--HOWEVER, going with an open mind is an absolute must. If you feel slightly uncomfortable with a cultural experience, embrace it, because you are being a GOOD exchange student. Also, minimize contact back home--you only have a short time in your host country, to take advantage of it! |
