Full of unique learning experiences and fun adventures! Past Review
By Isaac Yglesias (Brandeis University) - abroad from 08/24/2018 to 12/16/2017 with
Sarah Lawrence College: Havana - Sarah Lawrence College in Cuba
How to live in a different society and appreciate amazing adventures!
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
My semester in Cuba was not as academically demanding as most semesters have been for me at my home institution. My Cuban university courses were not as rigorously structured as those in the U.S. Still, they gave me unique and interesting Cuban and Marxist perspectives on U.S.-Cuba relations, history, and politics. Moreover, the difficult living situation with the embargo and constant shortages of goods and services dictated the academic challenges that I faced. For instance, it was hard to have to find sources and put together a final academic research project without reliable Internet access for me to do as thorough research as I could have done in the U.S. Because there is no fiber-optic cable that runs through Cuba from the U.S., as a result of the embargo, Internet access is very limited there. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I really appreciated the thorough and sincere administration of the Sarah Lawrence Cuba program. Our program director and assistant director lived with us in our neighborhood of Havana, and were always available to meet with students as needed to address anything that could come up during the semester. Our directors supervised group trips around Havana and the entire country, and were always in touch with the University of Havana to make sure that students were enrolled in classes and to provide guidance to students around getting course syllabi or any other documentation necessary for studying there. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
|
| * Food: |
|
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
|
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
|
| * Safety: |
Generally speaking, Cuba is a pretty safe country when it comes to crime issues. When traveling around Havana, students should try to speak in Spanish and refrain from wearing ostentatious jewelry or clothing when going out at night in order to avoid unwanted attention from strangers on the street. However, take note that safe drinking water is not always readily available like in the U.S. Students can buy safe, cold bottled water in convenience stores and supermarkets, but these stores are few and far between and tend to run out of bottled water. Therefore, students should bring special water bottles that filter local tap water to stay hydrated on hot days. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
No other study abroad program in Cuba offers students the unique academic and travel opportunities as well as the top-notch administration that the Sarah Lawrence program does. |
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) |
|
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Usually between $25-$40 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Walk everywhere and take collective taxis instead of direct taxis to get around Havana. Do not fall for persistent vendors in crowded tourist areas-they can scam you and charge you $50 for photo opportunities or unwanted trinkets. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
|
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
|
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Advanced |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | how to live with very limited Internet access, even in Cuba's largest city! |
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! |
