Nicaragua: Learning There's More to Every Story. Past Review
By A student (Psychology / International Relations, SUNY - College at Geneseo) - abroad from 05/21/2013 to 06/19/2013 with
SUNY Geneseo: El Sauce - Humanities Course
Learned that the best experiences begin outside of your comfort zone and there is more than one side to every story.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I was able to learn so much about the Western Tradition and achieve a deeper understanding of the literature through my experiences in Nicaragua, a country that largely had such traditions enacted upon it yet grew to develop it's own unique flavor and contributions. The professors did an amazing job and I highly recommend taking Humanities abroad as opposed to in the classroom. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Enlace Project has an awesome staff. They are very helpful and encouraging and overall did a great job! |
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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? |
The opportunities are there for you to interact with the locals, but it is up to you to take advantage of those opportunities to integrate. It is very easy to slip into the habit of spending most of your time with your study abroad companions, and it is important to advise students to step out of there comfort zone and meet the people and the culture they came to meet. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| 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) |
meals are provided you are very well fed, but often need to buy bottles of water throughout the day as it is very hot and you could get dehydrated |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $50 |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
Spanish was not required as the course itself is in English, but it is very helpful and those who know even a little are encouraged to use it, especially since the host families often speak little to no English. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Spanish 202 |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | speak with friends, use conversationally and don't worry as much about the grammar, think more about getting your point across and knowing enough vocab to hold conversations |
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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| 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? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I wish I had packed better clothes for the heat and took the time to practice more Spanish. |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Avid AdventurerThe wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Humanities II |
| Course Department: | |
| Instructor: | Weston Kennison |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
