Study Abroad Indonesia: A Period of Personal Growth Past Review
By A student (Amherst College) - abroad from 01/29/2016 to 05/12/2016 with
SIT Study Abroad: Indonesia - Arts, Religion, and Social Change
I learned how resilient and independent I can be. I had never traveled that far by myself, and I ended up being okay! I learned so much about a culture I had never experienced, and grew in so many different ways.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
This program had the perfect balance of classwork. They recognized that it can be overwhelming for some students to be in such a different country with so many activities and excursions, so the coursework was not too heavy considering how much we were required to do in general. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The administration for this program is definitely the best that I have ever experienced. The administrators took students' needs seriously, but also made a great effort to try to get to know each of us as individuals. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
|
| * Food: |
|
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
This program is the most immersive program that I have ever heard of. We stay with families, participate in ceremonies like Ngaben and Purification ceremonies, we learned Indonesian dance and music, and learned so much about the culture and people. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Students with any health issues were immediately treated. |
| * Safety: |
We stayed in a village for the most part, which was completely safe. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
When talking with my classmates, I think that I probably had the best experience. While the living arrangements and such were not as luxurious as theirs, I was able to learn the most about the area to which I travelled, and made the most meaningful memories. |
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) |
One student only spent about $300 during the entire trip. Others chose to spend more (the most was $1800). It depends on how much you do on the weekends and how well you budget. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $30 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | As long as you don't go to expensive hotels and buy a lot of clothing at Western stores, you won't spend a lot of money. The American dollar goes very far in Indonesia |
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 |
Most homestay families didn't speak English, so you had to use it. |
| 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? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | I had not taken Indonesian prior to departure |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | You don't really need to practice since they spend so much time in the beginning teaching you the language. |
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? | The food might take getting used to but it's delicious! |
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.' |
