Vietnam is beautiful Past Review

By (String Performance: Cello, Brigham Young University) - abroad from 05/07/2012 to 06/11/2012 with

Study Abroad Programs in Vietnam

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Absolutely worthwhile. I gained a greater disdain for war, a greater respect for American and all its diversity. I learned the comfort of modest living.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I love my time there, but it wasn't exactly academically (musically) rigorous.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I loved my host family. They were so kind and took care of me so well.

* Food:

The best tasting food ever. My host family fed me SO MUCH MEAT. I was pretty sick like a week in. They made me eat so much food in general and I'm just not a heavy eater.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

I felt safer in Hanoi than I do in Dallas. Crossing the street isn't so bad once you get used to it. Just be careful around the Old Quarter and the French District for pick-pocketers. My friend got his wallet stolen there.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

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)

They paid us for gigs although we told them not to :/ So it was pretty easy since everything is so cheep and friends kept paying for us! The only reason I ended up spending more money than I made while I was there was to buy a ton of souvenires.

* Was housing included in your program cost? Yes
* Was food included in your program cost? No
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? Make friends with host family and host family friends! Be careful with street food, but $1-1.50 is plenty for one meal.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

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

And I'm ok with that.

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? None
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? None
How many hours per day did you use the language? 0
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? I just had a vietnamese-english dictionary. Also I had the host family write down some vietnames phrases and I just would try to say them or point to them when talking to people.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • International Students
  • Other
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?
  • Independence
  • Experience with a professional orchestra
  • Beautiful people and scenery.
* What could be improved?
  • crash corse in vietnamese would be good.
  • more information on how to pay for things and how the market works
  • how to get around public transportation.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I new the city beforehand, so that I didn't have to spend three weeks figuring things out before really enjoying it.