Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

A wildlife lover's heaven where you just have to learn to go with the flow. Past Review

By (Middlebury College) - abroad from 02/17/2012 to 05/11/2012 with

Round River Conservation Studies - Namibia Desert Program

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was worthwhile, but not in the ways I expected it to be. I expected to learn a lot about biology, conservation biology, field methods, and the culture of Botswana. In the end, I experienced a lot more personal growth and learning. I learned how to work with difficult people and get along with people who were very different from me. I learned to go with the flow and not get overly upset by disorganization.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The academics were adequate, but not exceptional. Taking courses while living in the bush is no doubt difficult, but there should have been more short assignments, more written assignments, and more effort to connect our fieldwork with our coursework.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

I participated in the first semester program that Round River has offered in Botswana and it was not as well organized as it should have been. Lots of things (research permits, camping permits, car problems, schedules) had not been worked out before students arrived and we spent a lot of time waiting for things to be sorted out when we could have been in the field doing work.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Who doesn't love living in tents, cooking over a fire, and listening to lions roar as you fall asleep?

* Food:

Since we were based in the field, we had no way to keep fresh fruits and vegetables, meaning we ate a lot of canned food and carbs. Not the most healthy diet. However, it was wonderful to learn to cook over a fire and we made everything from pizza to curry naan wraps to thai peanut sauce and vegetable. We even baked bread, cinnamon rolls, cobbler, and vegan chocolate cake over the coals!

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Since most of our time was spent in research camps in the bush, we didn't have many opportunities to become immersed in the local culture. We spent two weeks in one rural town and that was a very interesting and rewarding cultural experience. There could definitely be more integration though.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

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)

Everything is included. On the occasions that we did pass through town, I spent minimal amounts of money on food, drinks, and gifts for people back home.

* Was housing included in your program cost? Yes
* Was food included in your program cost? Yes
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $15

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Other
  • Hotel
  • Hostel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The lifestyle - Life in the bush is simple and beautiful. No cell phones, no internet, no electricity. Animals all around. Stunning scenery.
  • The instructors and my fellow students - All smart, interesting people, and an incredibly diverse group with widely differing interests.
  • The variety - We stayed in about five different research camps and two towns. A nice taste of Botswana!
* What could be improved?
  • The organization - In future programs I hope that all permits and schedules will be organized BEFORE the students arrive in country.
  • The research - The graduate student that we worked with was unprofessional, disorganized, and unethical. It made the research component suffer. I hope that Round Rive works with someone else in the future.
  • The local experience - I think more emphasis should be placed on integrating students and local communities. There should be more opportunities for students to meet with local organizations, local students, and other stakeholders in conservation.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? There are a lot of bumps along the way when you are trying to do research in the bush! Have patience, look on the bright side, and keep an open mind.