Past Review

By Melissa F (Latin American Caribbean Studies, SUNY - Binghamton) for

Study Abroad Programs in Venezuela

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

I gained a lot of insight into the culture of this region in the Venezuelan Andes. It was eye-opening, and incredibly different from what I'm used to. I only wish I could have made some lasting Venezuelan friends while I was there. This was my main problem with the program; it didn't facilitate interaction/let me meet Venezuelans my age! And not knowing the language very well made it very hard to make friends on the street.

Personal Information

The term and year this program took place:	Fall 2009

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.	The school was more of a place that Venezuelans go to learn English on the weekends. It's not an actual university. This made it difficult to meet people my age. The teachers weer invested in their students, it was very helpful that they were local and spoke fluent Spanish. The classes were incredibly easy in comparison to what I'm used to at Binghamton. I really wished for more of an academic challenge while I was there. I also would have liked the opportunity for one on one tutoring in Spanish.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program	I wish I knew what I was getting into a little bit more before I left. I would have liked to have known that I wasn't going to be in a classroom with other Venezuelan students, and that it wasn't a full-time school for any of them.
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	I lived right around the corner from my school, could walk to the bus stop, to the trolley, a Chinese food restaurant and McDonalds from where I lived. The only thing that took a little getting used to was the fact that they didn't have internet in the house. <br /><br /> I lived right near the school in a beautiful house. I was fed very well and had maids for the first time in my life! It was comfortable, up-scale living. I hadn't expected that. It was a nice surprise.
* Food:	It was incredible! I ate three course meals twice a day!
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?
* Safety:	There was a pharmacy and free clinic right down the street from our school. I had a parasite three times so I was always in and out of that place. It was efficient and effective.
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program?	No

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)
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	I was there about 4 months and traveled often. I think I spent about $3,000 in total. I shopped, ate an additional meal unincluded in my homestay everyday, traveled to the coast on many weekends, went paragliding etc. $3,000 was more than enough to do whatever you like for one semester.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	I wish I'd known about the illegal exchange rate before I'd gone! the rate was about 5 - 6 bolivares to the dollar illegally, but legally it was only 2 bolivares to a dollar. If I'd paid for everything using the illegal exchange rate, a typical meal at a low budget restaurant would cost $15, and a T shirt would cost $75. You should bring cash if you can, and exchange for bolivares when you get there! You cannot rely on a credit card here!