Breaking Down Boundaries Past Review
By Jacob E (Anthropology and HSSP, Brandeis University) - abroad from 08/24/2014 to 12/06/2014 with
SIT Study Abroad Uganda: Global Development Studies
Uganda is a very different place than the states and I learned so much about the cultural divide that divides Africa from the rest of the world. It was a great period of personal growth that will affect me for the rest of my life.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Hands on learning experience allowed us to see development close up and in a real world setting. This alone allowed me to learn new things not available to class room learning settings. |
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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? |
Spent two and a half months living with a host family. Felt safe and welcomed |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt integrated but I still was forced to spent the majority of the time with the Americans on my program |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
No issue with health |
| * Safety: |
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| 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) |
Uganda is very cheap so it was easy. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 50 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Since I was in Uganda where withdrawing money was difficult, I should have brought more cash along so I wouldn't have had to use the ATM so much |
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 |
Spent alot of time with American students anbd ym host family spoke english well so language immersion could have been better. |
| 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? | 0 |
| 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? | As soon as you arrive in country, request a host family that doesn't speak English. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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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? | Don't worry about bringing so many clothes to Uganda. Uganda has very cheap clothing (a dollar per shirt and two dollars for pants) and I could have saved money if I bought clothing there. |
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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
