Past Review
By Christine S (Anthropology and English, Tufts University) for
SIT Study Abroad: Senegal: Global Security and Religious Pluralism
I gained holistic personal improvement. I feel better, happier, more content, and I know what I want.
Personal Information
| The term and year this program took place: | Fall 2008 |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Classes are relatively easy, but that is necessary since adjustment to the culture and experiential learning is challenging and requires most of of energy, skills and learning. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The Academic Director is wonderful. The Senegalese employees are also great. The american ex-patriot who assists with the program was an annoying grader, but everyone on the staff here is wonderful, friendly, caring and amazing to be around. They become your friends quickly. The program is small (20 students) so you get to know people really well, and everyone becomes like a family after sharing that experience. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Host family and then apartment with other students. Both great experiences. The host family gave me a tremendous insight into the culture and was an excellent learning tool / way for us to meet other Senegalese people our age. And the apartment gave us the freedom to get to the know the city itself really well, since we were independent and responsible for taking care of ourselves and getting around. <br /><br /> Village stays, host family in Dakar and apartment in Dakar were great. It was interesting being in the capitol city because it is half-western, half-not. I wish I had stayed a bit more in the rural area. SIT gives you money for travel to and from school, for meals, and gives you a stipend during the Independent Study Project for housing, study expenses, etc. |
| * Food: |
Interesting, but you grow to love it. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
At first it was tense and we definitely got on each other's nerves but we got through it and became a big family. Everyone loves each other and you get much closer than in big groups. There is a strong sense of belonging. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
They are very prepared to deal with illness and Senegal is not a violent country. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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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 about $1500 during the 4 months I was there. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | It is very easy to live very cheaply. (You can get a delicious meal for about $1.50 if you eat where the locals do.) |
Language
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
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Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Be prepared to not be prepared and go with the flow. Don't keep yourself in the comfortable bubble of home and school. Bring Immodium. |
