Incredibly rewarding experience- can't wait to go back! Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

This course exposed me to more than I could have ever imagined in a class setting in New York. Not only were the experiences directly tied into our course material and goals and outcomes for the class, but we had additional guest lectures from Rhodes University that went above and beyond the scope of what I had anticipated learning.

On-site administration of your program

The administration of the trip was phenomenal. They did everything they could to make for a smooth, professional and fun trip, and I don't think it would have been nearly as rewarding of an experience without the leaders that took me and my peers there. Our days felt organized and well thought-out, and although busy and packed-full, were rewarding as ever and totally worth it.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Staying in Graham Hotel was a great experience because it was almost directly in town, and they treated us very well there.

Food is delicious and plentiful!

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt incredibly integrated with the local culture. We experienced local cuisine, language, cultural traditions, and we were constantly exposed to their way of life and thinking. We not only visited local historical sites, businesses, and traditional school settings, but we were able to see the places where people lived and spent most of their time, which definitely exposed me the most to the local customs.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

We did not necessarily look into the healthcare system, but rather other social systems that impact the health of individuals and the community as a whole. We did learn a lot about the local hospitals and care facilities, and the vast differences between Makhanda and what we are used to at home. The main health issue we noticed and experienced was the lack of consistent and clean water supply.

Though Makhanda is sometimes referred to as dangerous, I felt mostly safe my entire time there. A lot of education was provided, and multiple precautions were taken when we were out past dark, in smaller groups, or in specific areas known to be more dangerous. There was a good balance of local people letting us know the ways to stay safe and not make us too worried while also exposing us to the realities of everyday life for some people who live and visit Grahamstown, so that we did not get too comfortable with being ignorant of our surroundings.

I could not recommend this program more. It was a great balance between planned out and go with the flow, where things felt intentional, but also laid-back. I loved how multi-faceted the whole experience was- though we were there on a health and education trip, we also learned about the history of Makhanda and South Africa, the ways that people are impacted by other social and economical issues, and the education system as a whole today. We also had lots of time to explore socially, and befriend the kind people who lived in Makhanda, and travel on our own throughout South Africa. This experience is one that I will carry with me always as a professional and as a person, and I'll consider it one of the highlights of my undergraduate career. I really hope to return soon!

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Things in Makhanda were very affordable, and some of our meals were accounted for. I definitely think some budgeting beforehand would be smart, but as a college student, it felt like an affordable place in regards to food and personal expenses.

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

We were constantly encouraged to use the language (especially with the Inkululeko students directly), and although it was a tough language to pick up on, we slowly got the hang of it through our daily lessons and exposure in general.

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• Hotel

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• Americans

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• Americans

• Engagement with community
• Multi-faceted experiences
• Experiential learning

• Extended timeframe

The Academic or Linguist