Vietnam, Morocco, and Bolivia. Wish I could do it all again! Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Great curriculum that provided critical analysis of development issues and environmental policy. Resources were limited and internet not easily accessible, which made it harder to do research than at our home institutions. This obstacle was frustrating at times, but 100% worth it and I learned so much and am so grateful for the lessons and perspectives I gained through the course material. Course material sometimes connected directly with site visits and other out-of-the-classroom experiences, though not always. When it did not seem connected it was important to dig deeper and find the connections!

On-site administration of your program

There was only 1 administrator and 1 professor with all 22 students, which put both of them in a difficult position. Country coordinators in each of the countries we lived in were crucial and very helpful. It was not always clear to me exactly what the plan was for some days, but if you are flexible and learn to roll with it, it is not a problem. You are always in good hands! Our fellow, the only administrator with us throughout the program, was incredibly helpful when I was sick, was working on my own travel plans, or had other questions.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

For all the time we spent in hostels or hotels and not with a homestay family, we stayed in very nice places. All of our hotels were very comfortable, had access to clean water, hot showers, food, etc. I felt very safe everywhere we stayed. My homestay families were incredible. Most homes in Vietnam do not have air conditioning. Most homes in Morocco have sleeping space in common areas on couches. There are certain adjustments necessary to make in each place, but I always felt at home and welcomed, safe, and well taken care of.

The stipend for food is incredible. I spent less money than I normally would at my home institution on food and was never hungry. The food in Vietnam provided the best balance in diet. The food in Morocco and Bolivia is very sugary and has a lot of meat. I am not vegetarian, but I think in many cases vegetarians actually were given better food despite the rarity of vegetarianism in Morocco and Bolivia. I didn't eat many vegetables. BUT this is all part of the experience of living in these countries, and is by no fault of the program. I am grateful for all the meals I had, people were always so generous with food and I ate tremendous meals constantly with lots of different plates. You have to be willing to eat whatever is served you, as you rarely have the opportunity to choose or to cook for yourself. I was never hungry from being uncomfortable eating the food given me. I don't like fish, but fish is very popular in Vietnam. This was rarely a problem though. Home stay families are usually willing to work with students and accommodate their preferences.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The homestays were crucial for integration. Because we spend so much time in our own group, and because we only have four-five weeks in each country, it is harder to meet many local students and build relationships with people in the community. How well you are integrated is very much in your own hands and what you chose to do in your free time and how much time you spend with your family. Because I could speak spanish with my host family in Bolivia, they taught and showed me so much about Bolivian and Cochabamban culture. I could not speak Arabic or French with my host family in Morocco, so I was not able to learn as much from them, though there were still great cultural and life lessons to be had there! Also, living in the medina in Morocco and in smaller cities (Can Tho, Vietnam; Cochabamba, Bolivia), as opposed to spending all our time in larger cities, enabled me to get a much better grasp of the culture.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

When I was sick I was taken to a great private clinic in Bolivia. It was nearby, it was clean, I received loads of attention, and it was amazingly inexpensive. My health needs were immediately given attention and the country coordinators paid for it all and I paid them back when I had the money. People were sick throughout the program from problems adjusting to the food, and the program was understanding of this. We all talked about our health issues openly and there was lots of support to help us get back on our feet!

Before the program I expected to get into many hairy situations, but am happy to say I did not have any! There are new dangers to be aware of in each location, but if you are smart, aware, and don't look lost, you will be safe. I did not go many places by myself, more out of convenience than out of safety concern, though I would recommend always using the buddy system and there will be lots of places you can go and many activities for you! There was always so much to do, I never felt limited in what I wanted to do by safety.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

The stipend is always enough for food. I paid for trips that I took separately from the program on the weekends and that's about it. You do not have to take those trips and many would say it is better to not go on any additional trips so that you can have more time with your homestay family and rest more. I chose to travel, which is relatively inexpensive in all three countries, and I am so glad I did.

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• No day is like the other. You get to see, do, and learn so much. My life will never be this exciting again.
• All the other students on the program were incredible and made my experience richer and exponentially better.
• We split our time between cities and more rural (and always extraordinarily beautiful) settings

• The time in each country could be richer if we had less time in the classroom. Having so many lectures meant we absorbed/retained less and had less time with host families and to explore the area.
• I loved community building sessions! I wish we had had even more!
• SIT should provide more involved assistance to students throughout the visa process, particularly for international students.

The Avid Adventurer