The best choice I have made July 06, 2026
By Rhiannon C (Kenyon College) - abroad from 01/19/2026 to 05/03/2026 with
SIT Study Abroad: Indonesia - Arts, Religion, and Social Change
I learned to be adaptable to any situation, how to build connections quickly, and how to engage anyone and everyone in conversation --- be it academic, ethnographic, or personal. It was incredibly worthwhile and genuinely the best part of my college experience.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The majority of the learning happened outside of the classroom and during the ISP (independent study period). Lecture, readings, and advisors were made available to supplement rich experiential learning. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The on-site administration and staff were excellent. They were welcoming, knowledgeable, and able to solve any problem that arose. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My host family was very kind, and my accommodations were perfect. |
| * Food: |
As a vegetarian, I was happy with the food available. The only times I struggled were when I went to smaller, more remote areas. The locations to program brings you to are quite accommodating. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Of course, it is impossible to be fully integrated into the local culture after spending only a few months in a country. That said, SIT seems to work to integrate its students more than most programs. After leaving, I feel that I have a much better sense of the culture that I would had I just been a tourist. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Health care is accessible and easy to receive. If you need any vaccines, you can get them upon arrival. |
| * Safety: |
I felt safer there than I do in most US cities. |
| 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) |
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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 |
There are "drop-offs" and other immersion experiences meant to encourage students to use their Bahasa Indonesia. |
| 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? | Intermediate |
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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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? | Everything is easier if you just ask! If anything is unclear, email the program, and they will get back to you with more information than you can easily receive from the website. |
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 Avid AdventurerThe wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal. |
