Amazing Iceland! Past Review
By A student (Environmental Studies, Swarthmore College) - abroad from 08/16/2019 to 11/26/2019 with
SIT Study Abroad: Iceland - Climate Change and the Arctic
We got to study climate change and the Arctic first hand and this is not an opportunity many people get. I feel like I gained more than I thought I ever would form this experience.
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 |
Both academic leaders were great and offered great guidance throughout the program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
In the beginning it was a lot of moving around and living in rooms with 2-7 other people, but it is something that you have to come prepared for and grow used to over the couple of months. Homestays were amazing. |
| * Food: |
The food was amazing! Especially homemade meals from our homestay family. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
This is the safest I have ever felt in a foreign country and at many times even safer than the US. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
This was an amazing hands on learning experience with an aspect of cultural emersion and an opportunity to learn so much. |
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) |
Iceland is expensive but the stipend that SIT provides covers more than enough if it is spent wisely. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Not more than the stipend aloted |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Plan your budget beforehand |
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 |
We studied the Icelandic language for a week in class that was not for credit. It was fun and useful to know some words. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Beginner |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | None |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 0 |
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? | It flies by! |
