South African Experience of a Lifetime Past Review
By Antonia B (Animal Sciences., University of Connecticut) - abroad from 06/03/2014 to 06/23/2014 with
UConn: South Africa - South African Ecology - Summer Program
It was so worthwhile. I gained friends, a larger understanding of the world and a different country. I learned to live a different life and learned how to navigate on my own so far from home. I learned about the land and people and how we should appreciate at home what we have and how much we have since most people lived so simple and happy.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Amazing. There was so much to learn and I wanted to stay longer. It was not an intense program but you learned many life values and survival. Also about the land and people |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Great place to be |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Great! safe and warm we had beds and still got a great South African experience |
| * Food: |
Food was great and we were well taken care of . After three weeks food started to repeat though . More variety by week three would of been nice. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
We met a lot of people and saw many ways of life. It was great to interact and get a sense of different living. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Nearest hospital was a while away but we were well taken care of by doctors or staff in camp |
| * Safety: |
Safety was utilized by the professor and many lectures were done to ensure our own knowledge of safety. Also had to get CPR certified. |
| 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) |
Trip was not too cheap but was cheaper than doing it out of study abroad. Money was not an issue getting to South Africa |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Maybe ten dollars. Food was included unless we chose to eat something else |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Apply for scholarships and bring enough spending money for yourself. everything is generally cheap there anyway. Make sure you convert your money in South Africa on the way home and back its cheaper to do so there |
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? | I wish I knew that I would be comfortable and confident going away from home for so long. And that I was capable of traveling. Also wish I knew how much I was going to long to go back to this beautiful country. |
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. |
