Reviewing Mongolia: A Less Common Study Abroad Destination Past Review
By Jesse Shircliff (Gettysburg College) - abroad from 02/24/2018 to 06/10/2019 with
SIT Study Abroad Mongolia and Siberia: Nomadism, Geopolitics, and the Environment
Going abroad is fun and important. Its character building.
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. |
(As in 3/5 difficulty). The academic rigor was lower than my average semester at college though the homestay and excursions offer different challenges unlike written/read assignments. You may get an A. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
both urban and rural home stays show you two faces of Mongolia. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My homestays were desirable. On excursions the accommodation left something to be desired, but that's Mongolia. If you want prim and proper the program's not for you anyways. |
| * Food: |
I consistently enjoyed the food. Though I had no allergies or dietary restrictions, and I like meat. I did buy fruit and recommend my host family to cook more balanced meals, since this wasn't common. You will have to adjust if you eat salad and fruit daily. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt the programs allows you to integrate as far as you can. You are put into the most intimate situations with Mongolian people, such as spending time on holidays, sleeping in a ger (just google it), living with a family. Of course, there's limits on "being local" given that you are not, but these are important ways to become as acquainted with Mongolia as possible. By the end of the program, I was conversing with taxi drivers and locals in the main square, bargaining for things, etc. Even today, one year and a half past the program, I was able to interact with a Mongolian family in their language, so the language component is there if you work hard. I know a significant amount of Mongolia history, politics, and economic change. The ISP is important for that. Also, I'm familiar with key sites and was able to interact, and you may maintain connections with groups like the Wild Conservation Society, the WWF, the United Nations, and more specific NGOS if you try. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Watch your pockets. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I wrote yes because you probably wont read this. If was going to do it all again, of course I would do something new. Would you live your life the same way twice? But the program was satisfying, and I would recommend any to do it; I would return to Mongolia by choice. |
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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Depends on what you want to do |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Don't do things that are expensive? You're an adult. Rely on your host family and get content with the resources provided. I doubt you will ever need to buy food unless you choose to. |
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 |
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| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | None |
| 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? | Study before you arrive. I cannot stress that enough. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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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? | the entire mongolia language |
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 Academic or LinguistYou went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you! |
