Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Lots of experiential learning, but not much else Past Review

By (Brandeis University) - abroad from 02/01/2013 to 05/16/2013 with

SIT Study Abroad: South Africa - Multiculturalism and Human Rights

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned so much, not from classes and lectures, but from living in and experiencing South Africa. Living with host families did a lot for my understanding of the various cultures of South Africa.

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.

The first 3 weeks are really intense. We were in class all day, 5 days a week. The following 2 months were very relaxed and the work was easy and scarce. The last month is ISP, which is the Independent Research Project. It's definitely challenging, but can also be very fun.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The homestays were all great, however we were required to find our own housing for the ISP period, and the office was extremely unhelpful. They gave us the information to find housing 2 weeks before we had to move it. It was extremely stressful and we had very little support.

* 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:

Of course you have to be careful and aware, but as long as you use common sense it isn't much more dangerous than any other city. Don't walk alone at night and all that.

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)

It depends on your budget, but between the exchange rate and low prices in South Africa, it was pretty easy. I spent between $20-30 a week, excluding the money I spent on souvenirs and excursions (sea kayaking, cable car down Table Mountain, etc).

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

They really wanted us to, but we didn't learn it very well and it's a hard language, so we didn't use it much. We had intensive language study in the first 3 weeks, but then mostly stopped using it.

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? None
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? None
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? None
How many hours per day did you use the language?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

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

Select all that apply

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

Select all that apply

  • Americans
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Homestays
  • Experiential Learning
* What could be improved?
  • Organization of the program
  • The other students!
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? - Bouncing from homestay to homestay every week or two can be exhausting, but at the same time, I've learned so much from each homestay that I wouldn't have learned any other way. It's definitely worth it, but something to keep in mind. - I didn't have a great group of people, everyone was amazingly clique-y (I'm talking like back in high school), so I didn't enjoy the social aspect of my experience at all and I didn't really make friends with locals, so that's why I gave the program an overall low rating, but it did do a fairly good job otherwise. We just were not a cohesive group. I would have probably rated my experience much higher had I been with a different group of people.

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 Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!