A lesson in learning about myself Past Review
By A student (Brandeis University) - abroad from 01/24/2019 to 05/09/2019 with
SIT Study Abroad: South Africa - Multiculturalism and Human Rights
Of course it was worthwhile. I think in particular I gained access to new, transformative, and creative research processes.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I think this is a complicated question, because I don't know that it was my place as a Westerner/outsider to 'intergrate' with the local culture. I did feel that I had ample space to connect with local people, if that's what this question is really asking. But no, I'm not going to say that I now feel like a real Cape Townian - an idea impossible to do as an outsider in 4 months who didn't at all experience Cape Town the way folks who live there full time do. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Navigating mental health issues in this program (as I assume in many study abroad programs) is not easy. I think you have to be really self-advocating and able to compromise your needs, something not everyone can do. |
| * Safety: |
Issues of safety in Cape Town mirror those in many other big cities - it's not unique to this space. You just have to be aware of yourself, and to recognize when compromised safety is part of larger social structures and systems. |
| 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 don't know that i spent that much on food outside of the program budget - maybe like $10 of my own money a week at most? it varied based on what we were doing that week. most of my other expenses were for buying data which varies based on what company you go to. I believe 10G of data was about 500R or 35$ |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | stick to the suggested budget as much as you can. go to MTN for data because it's the cheapest. go to grocery stores like pick n pay, checkers, spar/kwik spar for food as much as you can. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
Frequent use for about 4 weeks total. |
| 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? | Beginner |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | I did not take this language before the program. |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? |
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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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Because this program is ultimately organized by a predominantly white western entity (SIT), it will operate similarly to higher education in the US. Expect difference, but don't be surprised by harsh similarity. |
