Challenging but good experience Past Review
By Courtney S (Integrative Neuroscience, SUNY - Binghamton) for
SUNY Binghamton: Traveling - Tropical Forest Workshop
It was overall worthwhile. Definitely helped me to gain an appreciation for how other cultures live. It was challenging at times and not for people who aren't outdoor lovers. The people were really nice and I learned a lot.
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. |
I definitely learned a lot in a short period of time. The workload was not excessive and the tests were very fair. |
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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? |
We lived in cabins. They were very open to the environment and we often experienced many spiders, cockroaches, ants...etc. The shower is cold water only and was often unusable during heavy rains. |
| * Food: |
We definitely always had enough food, but by the third week it became a bit of the same always. There were chances to purchase your own food in the towns. The food overall was decent though. |
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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: |
We lived in a pretty secluded place so access to health care was a bit limited, but we never experienced any major health emergencies. |
| 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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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Just bring more than you think you will need, I would suggest $400. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
Most people did not speak English but the need to speak Spanish was limited to the few trips into town. |
| 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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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I think that this program would best benefit someone who is very adventurous, in good physical shape and interested in the environment. |
