SIT Cameroon: Academically and personally rigorous but very worth it! August 05, 2023
By Caroline H (Economics, Pomona College) - abroad from 01/29/2023 to 05/14/2023 with
SIT Study Abroad: Cameroon - Development and Social Change
It was absolutely worthwhile. The excursions were 100% the best part of the entire program-- meeting with the Bagyeli, traveling and living in Batoufam, and spending a week in Paris. This is a program I would 100% recommend, but only for students that have a very good idea of what they are getting into.
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. |
This program was easily the most difficult thing I've ever done in my life. It asks a lot of you-- academically, emotionally and physically. However, it was easily the most rewarding experience of my life, both academically and emotionally. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The staff for this program are absolutely incredible. They are there at all times of the day for whatever you might need. The expectations are high, but the appropriate resources are in place to ensure that you are able to be successful. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Homestays are an incredible and invaluable experience to make connections with host country individuals and better understand host-country culture. The expectations of this home-stay program are rigorous, with the expectation of nearly full integration into the family unit. With a 6:30pm curfew for safety reasons, this means that you are spending the majority of time with your host family during the evenings when you are not in class. It was a wonderful opportunity to gain such a strong connection to a family, but the loss of independence was difficult to maneuver at times. My room / living situation was great-- I had my own room and bathroom. |
| * Food: |
Food was generally through the homestay or through a stipend given by the program. The food is delicious, but would be difficult for a vegetarian or anyone generally with special dietary needs. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
In addition to homestay expectations, students are largely independent in moving around Yaoundé. This leads to a necessary and good degree of integration early in the program and the staff does an excellent job of helping students gain a good idea of how to move throughout the city and interactions politely and assertively. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I had multiple health system encounters while in-country. The staff was incredible about getting me to the doctor as soon as I mentioned feeling off. The program has the direct contact of a doctor at the hospital, and health issues take precedent over anything else going on. The local healthcare system is much more affordable than in the U.S. and I found it to be much faster. Cameroon is an area where malaria is prevalent-- take your prophylaxis and get all of the recommended vaccines. Get a life straw water bottle and USE IT. Always check the seal on your water bottles. Do not mess around with your health-- it will totally ruin your experience. |
| * Safety: |
Safety is generally a concern. Personal demographic attributes, especially gender, can enhance this concern. The program has good checks in place to help students stay safe, and the increasing availability of Uber-like transportation systems and apps adds an additional layer of safety. Street harassment is a consideration and can feel very scary. A good level of French can be really helpful to advocate for yourself in situations that have the potential to become unsafe. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
Easily the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. That being said, I've learned more about the world and myself than I could have expected. |
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) |
Food is extremely affordable, with the exception of fresh fruits and vegetables. Internet access is where I consistently spent the most money. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | ~$40 for internet |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | There is very limited Wifi availability, but all assignments are based online. You generally pay for your internet via your cell phone account and then hotspot. This can get really expensive really quickly, so be sure to account for it. |
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 |
French was required throughout French classes, but not in other courses. My homestay was were I spoke French the most consistently, as no one spoke English in the home. |
| 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 |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | French 101: Intro to Literary Analysis |
| 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? | Engage with your host family, especially if there are young children! Speak French with the staff! |
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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| 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? |
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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? | I wish that I had had a better understanding of the expectations of time to be spent with your host family and the role that students occupy in host families. It is a very different role than that of the traditional American college student-- you are very much accountable to the parents in the home. This was a difficult transition that I was not prepared for. |
