It was everything I wanted in my abroad experience and a little bit more. Past Review

By A student (Environmental Studies Conservation Biology, Middlebury College) - abroad from 01/18/2013 to 05/03/2013 with

SIT Study Abroad: Tanzania - Zanzibar Coastal Ecology and Natural Resource Management

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

Independence. Increased my love for Africa and the culture. It was completely worth while and I would do it 10x over. I gained new friends from across the country and experiences no one else can say they have ever had. There are memories only I hold and they are priceless.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program?	1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.	Although it may not be considered academically as intense as a formal college setting, SIT provided a mentally strenuous course load that involved high levels of physical engagement with the culture and the environment. I learned more about myself and the subject matter this semester than I could have taking any course in a formal college classroom. I was forced to think in creative and non-linear ways in order to complete assignments and get the full experience.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program	The administration was fantastic. They knew all the ins and outs of the country. We had access to unbelievable resources. It was difficult with the academic director because he was not from Zanzibar and did not know the system, but the assistant director and other employees were amazing. The assistant AD in particular was the main reason the program was a complete success and ran smoothly.
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	The housing was much nicer than I anticipated and extraordinarily comfortable. Mauwani Inn was a great place to stay in between excursions and a fun way to reconnect with the group. The homestays accommodations were fantastic.
* Food:	One word AMAZING. The food was so great and so tasty. A lot of bread, rice and beans, but the flavoring was incredible all the same. Chapatti and mkate was my favorite types of bread. The fresh fruits and vegetables were perfect to create wraps with chapatti.
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	This aspect of the experience was by far the best. The program did an incredible job integrating both biology and cultural immersion. By the end of the semester I felt at home in the country, conversational in the language, and comfortable with the culture.
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?	Lucky for me I never had the need to use the health care system, but a couple of students did and they lived to tell the tale. There were definitely plans in place in case of emergencies and the staff was available at all times of day.
* Safety:	The administration was very careful and protective of us, but they also gave us a large portion of responsibility and freedom. I was constantly checked in on, but I was also granted the opportunity to be independent and travel on my own. We definitely got the best of both worlds.
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 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)	5. Very easy to live off the stipend. It was just enough to be comfortable and enjoy the foods. IT was not too much that you didn't look for bargains and want to find the real "dive" restaurants.
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	very minimal. 200$ total the entire semester
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	Eat simply. It tends to be the best food and then you will have money to splurge on extravagant meals at the end as well as gifts and other fun activities.

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	YES. The language was crucial to my experience.
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?	Intermediate
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure?	I did not take any language prior to departure, but I was conversational by the end of the trip
How many hours per day did you use the language?
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants?	Talk talk talk talk talk to people all the time. Strike up conversations and use your swahili especially in the market place. The only way to get better is to use it. Talking with children is great too or older parents.

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?	people food culture
* What could be improved?	cost of printing made the budget tight at the end academic director should know the language and be better connected in country swahili lessons continue throughout semester whenever in Stone Town, but for shorter sessions
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	The ability to store extra stuff. Bring extra underwear and shirts. Go to the market for food. Cheap and really good. Don't leave your gift buying to last. Take the weekly malaria medication.

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 Avid Adventurer The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	Intensive Swahili
Course Department:	Language
Instructor:	Bi Asia, Bi Shuwena, Bos Osi
Instruction Language:	Swahili and English
Comments:	I could not have survived the semester with out this course. The intensive Swahili lessons for the first month we were there allowed me to flourish within the society, communicate with the people, and assimilate into the culture. It was imperative to final ISP project where the majority of my research was interview-based as well as Swahili written surveys. The course pushed me to learn quickly, but was not so intense that I felt overwhelmed and left behind.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Environmental Research Methods and Ethics
Course Department:	Environmental studies
Instructor:	Matt Richmond and others
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	This course was mentally and physically challenging for various reasons. At all times you were dealing with lack of resources, a language and culture barrier, and an insufferably hot environment. I learned how to perform studies in a place where it should seem impossible. Breaking the language barrier and conducting any sort of research taught me more about real life than I could ever have imagined. The assignments were not necessarily difficult, but they forced you to interact with your environment and you had to participate in order to succeed. I participated so much more in my classes abroad because that was the only way to learn the techniques and information required for the final assessments. In addition a lot of the grading was based on level of participation.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Independent Project
Course Department:	interdisciplinary
Instructor:	none
Instruction Language:	English/Swahili
Comments:	This was the most difficult part of the whole abroad experience because we were basically cast off on our own for a month to conduct research and writes a massive paper about it. There was plenty of support, but they pushed you to solve your problems, make contacts and dive into the project on your own. This pushed me to my limits of independence. It was the most valuable course I have ever taken in my college career because I created, developed, pursued and completed a quality research project unique to the program and me and survived the process.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Coastal Ecology and Natural Resource Management Seminar
Course Department:	Environmental Studies
Instructor:	Multiple
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	This was a course that included a ton of traveling, but was extremely valuable. It provided a lot of students with ideas for ISPs. The field experience and seeing everything first hand allowed me to understand the technical workings (i.e. how salt forms biologically), the environmental effects, the cultural significance, and the amount of manpower needed. This course provided a well-rounded understanding of each topic. The coursework was not strenuous, but it provided a forum for reflection and deep consideration of each excursion.
Credit Transfer Issues: