Abroad for the Adventurer: finding beauty and value while abroad Past Review
By Abigail Rothstein (Brandeis University) - abroad from 02/23/2016 to 06/06/2016 with
SIT Study Abroad: Chile - Comparative Education and Social Change
I became so much more confident in my Spanish-speaking skills. I also realized how big and diverse the world is and how so many things we have as American college students are taken for granted.
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. |
Certainly not an academically demanding program, but can be as intense as you make it. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The host family coordinator was friendly and understanding. Although I personally had a subpar homestay experience, I have friends who loved their families. You can certainly get two extremes, as a fair warning. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I did not have a good host family experience in Santiago, but I always felt safe. |
| * Food: |
I did not like the food in Santiago. As a healthy eater, I struggled with the food provided. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The program does a great job immersing you in the culture. By the end of the program, I felt connected to local politics, history, and culture. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Superb. From the smallest health concern to the most serious, the program took extreme precaution and sensitivity. |
| * Safety: |
Don't let orientation make you think that Santiago is an unsafe city! Honestly, I was scared into thinking that I would be robbed or mugged while walking in Santiago. I was convinced that walking by myself after dark would leave me in an unsafe position. Towards the end of the program, I was taking busses and walking late at night, with a sense of precaution of course. |
| 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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $25-$50 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Go in big groups, since money saving will always be on someone's mind. This will lead you to scour for the best deals. |
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? | Beginner |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 100-level Spanish |
| 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? | Watch Spanish TV, listen to Spanish music and practice. I was so insecure about my Spanish-speaking skills, but when I became more certain in my ability, I had a much easier time speaking. Sometimes, language acquisition success can be measured by confidence. |
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? | 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? | Speaking a language is about 25% technical skills and 75% confidence. I spent all of fall semester anxious about my Spanish ability, but I learned so much so fast while abroad. |
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 Avid AdventurerThe wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal. |
