An amazing 4 months in a beautiful country full of kind people July 28, 2023

By Ella B (International and Global Studies, Middlebury College) - abroad from 02/07/2023 to 05/23/2023 with

SIT Study Abroad Nepal: Development, Gender, and Social Change in the Himalaya

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

I gained a more nuanced view on development and multicultural thought, as well as learned through experience how to research in a foreign country and engage with local populations. It was most certainly worthwhile

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program?	1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?
* Food:
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?	I did not have any serious health issues, but my friend that had to stay in the hospital for a week had a horrible experience and felt very unsupported
* Safety:
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program?	Yes I had a really amazing time in Nepal and was able to meet so many amazing people and experience so many new experiences. I really loved the people I became friends with and all of the places I got to explore. While things were definitely difficult at times, I would do this program again

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)
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	$60
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	you do not need to buy a lot of things to prepare for this trip-- everything is much cheaper in Nepal and you can find a lot of fun unique things!

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
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
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?	speak Nepali with as many people as you can!

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Host Family
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Host Family
* Who did you take classes with? Select all that apply	Americans
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?	language learning excursions living with host families
* What could be improved?	work life balance institutional support for students giving guidelines for courses and assignments
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	How important it is to be able to go with the flow and not view things as how they are "supposed" to be

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 Adventurer The 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.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	Nepali Language
Course Department:
Instructor:
Instruction Language:	Nepali
Comments:	Very challenging and fast-paced, but with lots of support and instruction
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	ISP
Course Department:
Instructor:
Instruction Language:
Comments:	No support or instruction, we were given grades without ever recieving feedback or being told what the parameters for those grades were; I did not feel supported in this process
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Development, Gender, and Social Change Seminar
Course Department:
Instructor:
Instruction Language:	english
Comments:	No support or instruction, we were given grades without ever recieving feedback or being told what the parameters for those grades were; I did not feel supported in this process. There was no development of themes or progression of content, we got random lectures from guest speakers that were often repetitive and not well structured
Credit Transfer Issues: