Mali: Flexibility is Key Past Review
By Claire H (PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES., Carleton College) for
Study Abroad Programs in Mali
For sure! I didn't know cultures as different from mine as Mali's existed and I now have a much greater appreciation for the views of a large portion of the world.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Our lectures in French covered very basic material and we were not given time for discussion during our seminar. There was almost no homework. The assignments we did have were vague. I learned the most during discussions in my French language class. |
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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? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Bamako, despite the American security warning, feels very safe. I wouldn't have traveled alone to the North of the country, but Bamako was safe. |
| 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? | $30 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | I brought a mosquito net only to learn that I couldn't use it on the bed I was given in my host-family. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | French 240 |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
With my professors, my host family, and other local Malians who did not speak English. Few people spoke English, though the SIT professors did. |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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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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