Incredible and worthwhile experience Past Review
By Bryan M (Business Administration, University of Southern California) - abroad from 06/17/2011 to 08/19/2011 with
Study Abroad Programs in Kenya
Previously listed
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. |
The program is an opportunity to practice skills in leadership, prototyping, and teamwork. The experience promotes personal and professional development, while simultaneously giving you access to experience what it's like to live in a culture vastly different than our own. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The program advisors were good at keeping to the program curriculum and providing suggestions and ideas throughout the process. I appreciated going through the curriculum with participants from other communities on a weekly basis to provide consistency in our experiences and our approaches. It may have helped to have more familiarity with the curriculum before arriving in-country so that we could better prepare ourselves for any challenges. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The living arrangements were basic and similar to the experience of camping. Living with a host family was one of the best parts of the program. |
| * Food: |
The food is basic but good for the most part. Quantity isn't as much as we may be accustomed to, but that's the nature of where you are. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
There are a number of differences between the local culture and our own that make integration a slow process, but I ultimately left feeling very integrated with the local community and happy to have been a part of it. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I personally did not have any health issues during the program, but advisors were extremely responsive to any health issues of participants. |
| * Safety: |
ThinkImpact worked hard to ensure we did not participate in activities that may put us in any danger, and the community we were in was for the most part very welcoming of us. |
| 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) |
Food is very inexpensive, and there are not many other costs associated with living in-country |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $15 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | I brought an entire pack of Clif Bars for additional food |
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 |
The program included weekly classes in Swahili and very much encouraged learning the language to communicate with our host families and the community |
| 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 |
| 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? | Learning basic pronunciations and phrases may help as preparation for the trip |
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? | The different issues locals faced so that I could have done more research in advance |
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.' |
