Incredible Experience Beyond my Expectations Past Review
By A student (University of California - San Diego / UCSD) - abroad from 07/01/2017 to 08/05/2017 with
UC San Diego Global Seminars: Cape Town - Change in Modern South Africa
This trip was absolutely worthwhile.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I learned a ton about Cape Town and South Africa. The courses themselves were not very difficult but supplemented our excursions very well. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Amazing staff at ISA! Made us feel so welcome, to the point that they invited us to their homes. I think about them every day. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Great hotel staff |
| * Food: |
I don’t have any dietary restrictions but I am a picky eater, and I had no issue with finding something I liked to eat. Nobody on the trip had any food-related illnesses. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I don’t think I stayed long enough to stop feeling a little nervous about potential misunderstandings with locals, but I generally felt very comfortable. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Nobody on the trip needed any formal healthcare services but we were informed of how to get help if need be. There was a pharmacy down the street if we needed over-the-counter medicine. |
| * Safety: |
We were warned well in advance of potential safety hazards and I never felt truly unsafe. There was an incident (which I was not present for) where a homeless man was upset at not being given any change, but nothing ever came of it and no one was harmed. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
|
Finances
|
* 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) |
On average I spent about $120 per week, but I could have easily spent less if I wanted to. A great breakfast was provided by the hotel every day. There was no place for us to cook our own meals but we there ere two grocery stores within walking distance. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $120 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | The grocery stores have a section where they serve pre-cooked food by weight- you can ask for X rand worth of rice, chicken, etc. It’s way cheaper than eating at a restaurant. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
| 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? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | If you’re going to hike Table Mountain, know which route you plan to take and wear hiking shoes! |
