Amazing Multi-City Journey Awaits You! Past Review
By Cinneah E (Barnard College) - abroad from 08/18/2014 to 12/08/2014 with
SIT Study Abroad: IHP - Cities in the 21st Century: People, Planning and Politics (Fall 1)
How to be an independent traveler, how to work with others efficiently YES
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. |
Academic rigor was less than expected based on my Barnard experience. Also must note my unique experience as the professors on my program had to do double work as one of the professors fell ill in the first weeks abroad and left the program. Resources were always online based. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
98% of time spent in homestays, which turned out to be great for me but something to consider if a student wishes for a more campus-feel during their abroad time. |
| * Food: |
Again--homestay food cooked by families was a great treat for me. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt the program kept us very sheltered from the larger city--we were advised on where/when to visit certain places and never encouraged to wander on our own--though we did. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I came down with walking pneumonia while in the final month and was unfortunately misdiagnosed by a local physician in Vietnam. My program team, however, did an awesome job making sure I was well and accompanying me to health visits and such. |
| * Safety: |
SIT does a great job of prepping students for safety concerns. |
| 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) |
SIT provided us with a lunch stipend and breakfast/dinner meals were provided in homes. Most students spent very little of their money on weekly expenses since food and public transportation were covered. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $10/week for coffee, other miscellaneous expenses |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Create a budget plan. Keep money in various accounts and in cash stored throughout suitcase. Limit the amount of money and credit you carry when out in city. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
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? | To stay away for a year! |
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 Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
