Worth It in Every Way December 16, 2024
By A student (Environmental Science, Brandeis University) - abroad from 09/02/2024 to 12/15/2024 with
SIT Study Abroad: Panama - Tropical Ecology, Marine Ecosystems, and Biodiversity Conservation
It was 100% worthwhile! The level of learning, cultural immersion, and social connection I took out of this experience is beyond words. I gained a much broader perspective on life, and I feel so much more confident, both in my skills as a scientist and in my ability to thrive in the global community. Every moment spent in this program, from the research opportunities to the interactions with locals, taught me invaluable lessons about adaptability, communication, and empathy. I’ve come away with lasting friendships, unforgettable memories, and a renewed sense of purpose.
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. |
Amazing educational experience. Very rigorous, with fast paced course work, but there are so many experiential components built into the program with every homestay, field session, and interaction with the community contributing to the leaning. My ecological knowledge, cultural understanding, and Spanish skills all vastly improved. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The whole program was well planned out and facilitated by the on-site staff, all of which were incredibly caring and ensured that students were well supported. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Housing ranged from various homestays to hostels and hotels depending on the week. The cultural immersion granted by the homestays were second to none. Panama's heat took a bit to acclimate to, especially with A/C being rare in the country, but I was satisfied and comfortable at all of the places we stayed. |
| * Food: |
Food on the program was great! I was never left hungry and the program was very accommodating to those of us with dietary restrictions. Fresh fruit and vegetables are harder to come by in Panama City, but plentiful in the countryside. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Homestays, Spanish classes, and scheduled time with local university students all contributed to becoming very integrated with the culture. There were plenty of culturally immersive opportunities both provided by the program and those that can be taken advantage of during free time. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
All health related issues were addressed well. |
| * Safety: |
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| 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) |
Things are a little cheaper in Panama than the US, so it's not too hard to stick to a budget |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $25-35 or so |
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 |
Lots of opportunities to use Spanish |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Fluent |
| 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? | Practice during the summer/semester prior to travelling, it helped shake off the rust early. |
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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| 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? | You're going to get pushed out of your comfort zone, but that's when the |
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. |
