Living in Nicaragua is challenging, but 100x more rewarding than a more "fancy" study abroad! Past Review
By Bennett M (Business Administration, SUNY - College at Geneseo) for
SUNY Geneseo: El Sauce - Service Learning in Nicaragua
1,000,000% worthwhile. I think about it every day. I think back to the first few days where I struggled- and now I think "I did it." We didn't just visit Nicaragua, we LIVED in Nicaragua. The people were amazing, and I can't begin to explain all they've taught me. It makes me appreciate everything I have at home more, while also opening my eyes to the value of experiencing other cultures.
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. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Kellan and Yaci are two amazing individuals. They welcomed us with open arms, and always had a smile on their faces. That being said, some aspects of the program could be planned out more effectively. Although my portion of the program was fairly well-established, I don't know how much of a physical impact I made on Enlace. They didn't provide much feedback on our work other than a "thank you" here and there, so more constructive criticism would be helpful. Overall, I can't thank them enough for the amazing six weeks I had in Nicaragua. They do great work, and I think very highly of them both! |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
It took some getting used to with the spiders, but my host family was very accommodating! They're a truly wonderful family. We still keep in touch through email and photos. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Volcano boarding down Cerro Negro! |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | In El Sauce, probably between $5 and $25 USD (not much at all) |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | None |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | None |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
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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? | The type of student who would benefit most from this is a student who is looking to challenge themselves by taking away the cosmetic things we experience so much of in the US, and looking to instead live in a completely foreign environment and experience a completely different way of life. It's not a "fancy" trip- but that's why it's 100x more rewarding. |
