Amazing experience cut short Past Review
By Zach H (University of Vermont) - abroad from 01/19/2020 to 03/20/2020 with
SIT Study Abroad: IHP Climate Change - The Politics of Land, Water, and Energy Justice
It was totally worthwhile. I gained renewed confidence in traveling alone and being flexible.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The program gets some amazing guest speakers that are the best part of the academic program. Also able to visit some great field sites. Overall, there is a pretty decent amount of work (writing assignments, LOTS of reading, presentations, some quizzes and essays), but nothing is particularly challenging. Honestly too much time was spent in the classroom for what I got out of my academic experience. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
In-country administration and advisors are all amazing! |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Homestays are obviously a major part of the program. My homestay experiences all worked out pretty well. I wish SIT would take more into account student preferences for types of families (I.e. there were no kids in any of my homestays, something I asked for) Living arrangements in the homestays themselves vary, but mine were all plenty comfortable (internet, enough space, adequate bathroom, etc.) |
| * Food: |
Vietnam and Morocco have some of the best cuisines on earth. The program did a good job providing food for us when needed. In Vietnam, all dinners were provided by homestays and lunches were DIY with stipend money. In Morocco, all meals were to be provided by homestays or at the learning center, although there were opportunities to go out on our own (without stipend money, though). |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Homestays certainly help a ton with getting an authentic look at the local culture, but there’s only so much integration that can happen in 4-5 weeks. Speaking French helps quite a bit in Morocco though. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Towards the end of the program, a few of us went to a Moroccan hospital to get checked out and ended up staying many hours while waiting for COVID-19 tests to come back. Program leaders did a great job during this time to support us. Mental health issues were often discussed in community building sessions. |
| * Safety: |
|
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Vietnam and was really starting to get comfortable in Morocco when we were sent home (COVID-19). I’d have loved to see Peru of course. This is a truly one-of-a-kind life hanging experience that I’d love to do again, hopefully in its entirety next time! |
Finances
|
* 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 gave us a solid stipend in Vietnam, and it was likely enough for about half the program. It all depends on personal spending habits (how often eating out, going out, souvenirs) There was a very small stipend in Morocco that lasted a week at most for most students. This is because all meals are provided by the program, but that doesn’t mean students shouldn’t get any spending money at all, in my opinion. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $100 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Definitely try to take advantage of homestay meals if you want to limit external costs. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
|
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
3-4 ‘survival’ language classes simply don’t cut it for incredibly complicated to learn languages like Vietnamese and Moroccan Arabic. There classes were enjoyable, but minimally helpful in actually using the language day-to-day. French-language speakers will do fine in Morocco. |
| 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 (for Vietnamese and Arabic), College French |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 0 |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Using duolingo or other apps would be very smart before going to the country. |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
| 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? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Should have packed lighter! |
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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
