SIT: SOUTH AFRICA Past Review
By ASHLEY F (Religion/Religious Studies., Austin College) for
SIT Study Abroad: South Africa - Multiculturalism and Human Rights
MY ABROAD EXPERIENCE WAS DEFINITELY WORTHWHILE AND I WOULD DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN IN A HEARTBEAT. MY EXPERIENCE IN SOUTH AFRICA TAUGHT ME TO BE MORE ACCEPTING AND OPEN-MINDED. SOUTH AFRICA ALSO MADE ME MORE INTERESTED IN POLITICS BOTH DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
BEFORE TRAVELING TO SOUTH AFRICA I HAD NEVER REALLY GONE OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTRY. THE INFORMAL CLASSROOM SETTINGS AND EXPERIMENTAL LEARNING TECHNIQUES THAT I WAS ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN ALLOWED ME TO TRULY EMERGE MYSELF IN TO THE SOUTH AFRICAN CULTURE. THE WORKLOAD REQUIRED THAT YOU ACCURATELY MANAGE YOUR TIME AND THE TEACHING METHODS WERE EFFECTIVE. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
THE ADMINISTRATION THAT DIRECTED ME PROVED TO BE WELL INFORMED ON THE POLITICS AND INTER-WORKINGS OF THE HOST COUNTRY. THE STAFF WAS ALWAYS AVAILABLE. THEY MET ALL OF MY EXPECTATIONS. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
ALL OF THE HOUSING ARRANGEMENTS THAT WERE MADE FOR US SHED A DIFFERENT AND UNIQUE LIGHT ON DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF SOUTH AFRICAN CULTURE AND TRADITIONS. I ALWAYS FELT SAFE WITH THE HOME-STAY FAMILIES THAT I WAS PLACED WITH. THE ONLY TIME THAT I FELT UNSAFE WAS DURING ISP PERIOD WHEN WE WERE REQUIRED TO FIND OUR OWN HOUSING. |
| * Food: |
THE FOOD THAT I ATE IN SOUTH AFRICA IS NOT THAT MUCH DIFFERENT THEN THE FOOD THAT I EAT IN THE STATES. I AM LACTOSE INTOLERANT SO OCCASIONALLY THERE WERE DIFFICULTIES. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I WENT TO SOUTH AFRICA DURING THE WORLD CUP. I GOT TO INTERACT WITH AND DIFFERENT PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD WHO WERE ALSO VISITING. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
THERE IS A HUGE EPIDEMIC OF HIV/AIDS, WHICH MADE ME NERVOUS ON SOME OCCASIONS. |
| 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? | WHEN I STAYED WITH MY HOME FAMILIES I ONLY HAD TO SPEND ABOUT $5-$10 DOLLARS ON PERSONAL EXPENSE. THE MONTH THAT I HAD TO LIVE ON MY OWN I SPENT ABOUT $20-$40 ON PERSONAL EXPENSES EACH WEEK. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | PERSONALLY I WOULD SUGGEST THAT YOU TRY TO BE A FRUGAL AS YOU CAN UNTIL THE END OF THE TRIP FOR TWO REASONS. THE FIRST REASON IS THAT DRAGGING AROUND ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE BOUGHT FOR THE ENTIRE TRIP IS NOT FUN. SECOND THE LONGER YOU STAY THERE THE MORE YOU LEARN WERE TO SHOP FOR THE BEST DEALS. |
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? | TWO SEMESTERS OF SPANISH |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
FOR 1 1/2 MONTHS I HAD XHOSA LESSON TWICE A DAY, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. ALMOST ALL OF MY HOME-STAY FAMILIES SPOKE THE LANGUAGE AND ENCOURAGED ME TO USE IT ON A REGULAR BASES. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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? | DO IT!!!! THERE ARE GOING TO BE SOME THINGS THAT REALLY SUCK BUT THOSE EXPERIENCES ARE GOING TO PALE IN COMPARISON TO ALL THE UNFORGETTABLE MOMENTS AND EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE THAT YOU MEET. |
