Eco biddies for life but beware of eye leeches Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

SIT provides a very educational curriculum but not as vigorous in comparison to my home institution. Our coordinator was very well aware that while we were study abroad in order to expand our education, we also wanted to make the most of our experience being in a foreign country. He made it aware to us that we were there to do work but was willing to compromise and introduce us to the beauty of the country from a citizen's point of view.

On-site administration of your program

Tony, our coordinator, was amazing. He was extremely chill but attentive to our health and safety. As a program, we looked up to him not only as our administrator during our study abroad experience but also a very good friend. We also befriended our other two professors.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

SIT was very concerned with our safety and only put us in hostels they knew were safe and reliable. For the most part, we were alone as a group, expected to take care of each other. And that portion of our housing bonded us as a group of international students and put us on our wits. Hostels was a new experience for me and I feel extremely lucky to be able to experience these hostels because of the dedication and organization from Tony. We never had to worry about the living arrangements, only when to get up the next morning for class.

SIT fed us so well. We get a stipend for the entire trip and we were allowed to use that money for anything we wanted. The meals we cooked and ate were top notch and there was never a time where we were starving.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I wish I got to know more about the local culture but the homestay experience still made me feel integrated toward Australia. I got to see how the families lived and we had continuous contact with each other in the group in order to compare and contrast our families. In a way, SIT bonded us as a group to a point where we experienced the local culture through each other, not only on a first hand experience.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Our safety and health were the first priority in our program. Many of us got sick during the trip and Tony made sure to attend to the more severe cases. We respected and trusted Tony with our lives and the program was sure to include in our attention the dangers we might face in Australia before the start of the program.

Cairns, my base, was pretty much safe. Definitely stay as a group at times. Make a buddy the moment you get there. Part of the reason why I felt safe during this trip is because I trusted my group with my life. We're there to have fun (on an individual experience) but we got each others' backs if we were needed.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

We lived off a stipend that we paid for at the beginning of the program. Most of us came out of the program pocketing extra money; it wasn't a big deal as long as you controlled yourselves on your expenses.

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• Other
• Host Family
• Hostel

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• Americans
• Host Family

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• Americans

• Meryl's lunches
• The closeness of our group
• The environment

• The competiveness between students
• Updates on schedules
• Murri Time

The Academic or Linguist