UnBELIZEable Past Review
By Emily B (Biology, General., SUNY - College at Geneseo) for
SUNY Geneseo: Traveling - Belize Biodiversity
I learned about biodiversity. I learned about a tiny country I had never heard of prior. I learned that I have some of the best friends in the world, and that includes the people I just met on the trip. I think I'm more open minded these days, and I'm better at appreciating the biology that happens around me every day.
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 |
Hartvigsen did a great job of letting us know what was going on, and Dave was a stellar guide. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The place was significantly nicer than I expected. A/C, no bugs, nice beds. I thought we were going to be in a cruddy hostel, but it was really nice. And we occupied the entire building, so we knew everyone there. |
| * Food: |
Generally, the restaurants were great. They gave us a variety of local food options as well as things that were "safe". Some were a miss-but now we know about those and future trips can avoid them. The Tipsy Tuna had the worst service in the world. Rumfish had the best service and pasta I've ever had. Wendy's (not the chain, a local place) had the craziest variety of milkshakes. The gelato place, Tutti Fruti, was a delicious nightly affair. |
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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: |
I felt really safe and any issues we had were taken care of promptly and easily. |
| 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? | Less than $200 American. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | The exchange rate is 2:1 in our favor. You don't need to be too worried. Some gifts are definitely cheaper than others, and budgeting is a must. Bring money for gelato. It's delicious. |
Language
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
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? | No one will judge you for reusing clothes. Bring lots of sunscreen. Wear a shirt while snorkeling. Change out of wet clothes ASAP. |
