The REAL World Honduras: A life changing look at the rest of the world Past Review
By zack.gottleib (Molecular Biology, Texas Lutheran University) - abroad from 05/19/2012 to 05/25/2012 with
Texas Lutheran University (TLU): Traveling - Natural Science Mission Trip
I saw what the rest of the world calls "daily life." The conditions that Americans call poverty is a lie! It was eye opening and life changing, and I recommend this trip to everyone who can take the time to go!
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 |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
For what was portrayed to us by previous participants the hotel was great. It was very basic and you were given a clean bottle of water every day. |
| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Making friends with the local teen's was a great experience. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
The hotel was shut and locked every night by 10:30 so we were safe. |
| 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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| * 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? | Wait until the last day to buy souvenirs. It is almost impossible to get money otherwise. |
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 |
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| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | High School Spanish 3 |
| 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? | Go to places where there is no English spoken. They youth are the only people that know any English so being able to understand the language helps a lot. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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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? | Some people over exaggerate what needs to be brought with you. You only need clothes, meds, toiletries, sunscreen, mosquito spray. Its very minimal, but survivable |
