SIT Arica--que lindo! Past Review
By Rebecca G (PSYCHOLOGY., Carleton College) for
SIT Study Abroad: Chile - Public Health, Traditional Medicine, and Community Empowerment
Absolutely!
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
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 |
The directors of this program are absolutely phenomenal. They are coordinated, responsible, and have a wealth of resources through connections. They are also fun, loving and wonderful people. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
Although it is rare for Chileans to be vegetarians, most host families were very accommodating to students' particular needs. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The independence day celebration in September and rescue of the trapped miners were highlights. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Arica is a small city, and incredibly safe. This was really unique in comparing experiences with other friends who studied abroad in Latin America. I felt safe walking around by myself, even at night. |
| 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? | Weekly I had very few expenses, because I ate all my meals with my host family. I spent probably around $30 a week. Additional money was spent on souvenirs and travel. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | SIT gives you a stipend that covers transportation to and from classes every day. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 244 |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
The Spanish classes were not very well taught, but all the other classes were in Spanish. The homestay component was the most helpful with learning Spanish. |
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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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | People with an interest in public health, a foundation in Spanish, and who love summer will love this program. |
