A beautiful program, but be up for a challenge March 16, 2024

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The academics were not super challenging in the sense of assignments, but I thought they were very fulfilling. I learned a lot and most of our lectures came from local experts. The class in Samoan language was more challenging, but I also felt like I learned less due to the methods of the instructor.

On-site administration of your program

The program admins were very kind and caring. Sinu'u, the assistant to the director, was amazing and so wonderful to us all. The academic director was very kind and loving. She clearly cared about us a lot, but did have some issues understanding out problems or discomforts, especially related to mental health.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I loved my longest homestay and the homestay I had in Fiji. My shorter homestay in a local village was not a great experience, but I do not regret the experiences I had and things I learned. The last five weeks were held in a sort of motel. I loved living in proximity to all the other students, but there were a lot of problems with termites and the owners of the establishment did not follow through on some of the privacy we were supposed to have(though they were extremely kind and lovely people).

The food was absolutely delicious, but there were some issues. If you have dietary restrictions you may not be able to find accommodations. Vegan or vegetarian food is not always available, and you frequently just have to eat what you're given. There were also some food poisoning issues in the shorter village homestay.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt very integrated into the culture and learned a lot from it. This aspect of the program was perfect for me.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Health issues were taken seriously, but it was sometimes difficult to know who to contact or where to go when we were sick.

Generally, safety was good. Especially when travelling as a group I did not feel in danger. As a woman, individual taxi rides were sometimes threatening, as most are driven by men, and they sometimes made uncomfortable comments. The dogs are also an issue. Wild dogs are everywhere in Samoa, and my group did have an issue with a student being bitten while on a run.

I loved my experience in this program. I learned a lot and it was fantastically relevant to my educational goals. I would definitely do it again, but it did come with some challenges. This program is not easy when it comes to overcoming struggles and new experiences.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

The budget provided by SIT was more than substantial.

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

We were encouraged, but there were not a huge amount of group opportunities to practice the language.

Select all that apply

• Host Family
• Hotel

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• Americans
• International Students
• Host Family

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• Americans
• International Students

• The people
• The cultural immersion
• The environmental significance

• Acknowledgement of mental health as a significant issue
• Vetting of homestay families
• Samoan language teaching methods