Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Learning about Indigenous Peruvian Culture through Travel and the City of Cusco Past Review

By (IGS:Latin America and Economics, Middlebury College) - abroad from 02/23/2013 to 06/07/2013 with

SIT Study Abroad: Peru - Indigenous Peoples and Globalization

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned about adjusting to new experiences and stepping out of my comfort zone.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 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?

* Safety:

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

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? $50
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Peru is very cheap so it is hard not to save money.

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? Advanced
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? 300
How many hours per day did you use the language?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
  • Hotel
  • Hostel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
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?
  • lots of freedom
  • very cheap
  • fun
* What could be improved?
  • better Spanish instruction
  • more comfortable home stays
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I had known more about what we would be doing.

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:

Advanced Spanish
Course Department: Foreign Language
Instructor: Fernando
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: The professor was terrible, he was extremely conceited and spent most of each class rambling about how much he hated the United States, leaving very little time for us to do much of anything else.
Credit Transfer Issues: no
Course Name/Rating:

Quechua
Course Department: Foreign Language
Instructor: Regina
Instruction Language: Quechua and Spanish
Comments: Very interesting and well taught with a field trip to a local bilingual school.
Credit Transfer Issues: No
Course Name/Rating:

Methodology
Course Department: Anthropology
Instructor: Alex Alvarez
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: The course was interesting but too vague often to be useful in a practical setting.
Credit Transfer Issues: no
Course Name/Rating:

History of Indigenous Cultures in Peru
Course Department: History
Instructor: a variety of lectureres and Alex Alvarez
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: Very interesting most of the time, one long paper and lots of readings.
Credit Transfer Issues: No
Course Name/Rating:

Indigenous Peoples in Motion: Changes, Resistance, and Globalization
Course Department: Anthropology
Instructor: Alex Alvarez
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: Interesting and complimented by field work and experience during the excursions into the country.
Credit Transfer Issues: No