Cuba -- Not for the Weak Past Review
By A student (Liberal Arts, Sarah Lawrence College) - abroad from 08/23/2013 to 12/14/2013 with
Sarah Lawrence College: Havana - Sarah Lawrence College in Cuba
I gained a much more complex understanding of race and inequality than I did before I left.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
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 |
Suzanne and Helen were invested in our personal and academic success. I always felt well provided for. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The housing situation was not preferred, but I understand the constraints the program was working under. |
| * Food: |
I had some issues with the food, but Suzanne and Helen were responsive and did their best for the group. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Living in a house with only Americans isolated us, but taking classes at the university helped. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Health care was easily accessible and Suzanne and Helen were willing to bend over backwards to ensure that we were taken care of. |
| * Safety: |
There were some safety-related incidents, but I feel the program prepared us for them well. |
| 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) |
American students have so much money compared to the average Cuban to the point that it made me a little uncomfortable. Very easy to live on a student's budget. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
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| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Fluent |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Fluent |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Spanish Literature at Sarah Lawrence |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Use it every day before you go -- listen to the radio, write a diary, or have conversations, but use it every day. |
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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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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| 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? |
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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? | You will be living in a majority-minority country, and that is not easy. |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Academic or LinguistYou went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you! |
