The Global Health and Development Policy Program is as valuable as you make it Past Review
By Lauren C (Biology, French, International Studies, Hope College) for
SIT Study Abroad: Switzerland - Global Health and Development Policy
Culturally, this program was challenging because it was difficult to get to know local Swiss people in such a short period of time (3.5 mo.). It wasn't until the program was almost over that I was able to begin forming true friendships with Swiss people in my village. Academically, this program only touched the surface of many different topics in global health. This could be valuable for someone who is new to the area of global health, but for those who already have a good level of exposure and understanding of global health topics it was too beginner. Geneva is a global health capital and is a great area to network with different organizations.
Review Photos
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 workload was absolutely manageable and allowed us to "profiter de la Suisse" and also get work done. For the "Global Health and Development Policy" course, the majority of lectures were given by visiting professors and representatives from different international organizations so each class had a different topic and was presented in an isolated context. Therefore there was no continuation from one lecture to the next as in most formal university courses. The last month of the program was the independent study period, during which there were no scheduled classes and students were free to complete their independent projects. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
A strength of this program was the exposure to representatives from many different IGO's and NGO's |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Everything was provided by the host family (sheets, cookware, linens). The host family was a highlight of my experience and treated me like a member of the family - in a good way! My homestay location was somewhat far from the class location and it took approximately 40 minutes for me to get to class by train. |
| * Food: |
If you plan to study in Switzerland, I hope you like cheese and chocolate! |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
|
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
|
| * Safety: |
|
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
|
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) |
|
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Too much, Switzerland is expensive! |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | If you are debating on whether to pack something or buy it in Switzerland, PACK IT! (i.e. shampoo, toiletries, clothes) It will likely cost twice as much once you get here. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 400 |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
|
| Language acquisition improvement? |
My French speaking improved the most through interactions with my host family. The French class helped review important grammar topics. Geneva is a very international city and most people speak English, which is not ideal for students trying to learn French! The only part of this program that involved speaking French was the French class, all other classes were conducted in English. |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Take advantage of networking opportunities with the representatives from the many global health organizations you will encounter. |
