Salvador Brazil: Fruits and Growth. Public Health, Race and, Human Rights Past Review
By Phoebe S (Latin American Studies., Wellesley College) for
SIT Study Abroad: Reviews from Former Locations
The program was often frustrating but the experience of living in Salvador was unique, enriching, beautiful and worthwhile.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The small size of the group allowed for stimulating discussions and the program was well designed with the host family component. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The staff often couldn't help the students when it was needed nor give the time and effort to the projects and concerns of the students that would have been desired. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My host family lived in an apartment in a neighborhood close to the program's site. Everything was provided for me and I was extremely happy. |
| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I never felt "unsafe" in Brazil although health issues were addressed in a US model of thinking which wasn't always realistic in Brazil and most efficient. My advice to future students is to take their medical issues directly into their own hands and access their options to their desire and comfort. |
| 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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | I spent on average 20 -Reis per day (~12 USD) because lunch was not provided. The program gave stipend money from the program tuition. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Salvador is cheaper than other cities in Brazil such as Sao Paulo or Rio. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | I had no prior experience in Portuguese, only Spanish. |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
The language class was my favorite aspect of the program. I only spoke in Portuguese during the semester. |
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 do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | A student who is looking for a semester of jam packed life experiences would greatly benefit from SIT Brazil. Someone who is interested in melting pot societies and ethnic, cultural and religious diversity should highly consider the program. |
