Past Review

By Laurel H (International Development, Spanish, Tulane University) for

Universidad de La Habana / University of Havana: Havana - Direct Enrollment and Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

It was. I gained more of an ability to think and act on my feet, more of an ability to adapt, and the knowledge that you never quite fully understand a situation until you've spent much more than 4 months in it.

Personal Information

The term and year this program took place:	Fall 2009

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.	Classes were great and I feel like I learned a lot, but it was really hard to meet with professors or get help. Also, I wish there was more opportunity for dialogue within the classroom setting.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program	They were surreally unhelpful. Thank God for the professor we had with us.
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	The staff was outrageously disrespectful to the point of ridiculousness. They were the most manipulative individuals I have ever met and overall placed a damper on my experience there.
* Food:	The food was ok but I wish that the staff hadn't routinely stolen the pizzas so that we could have had some!
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	It was very hard to meet Cubans.
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?
* Safety:
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)
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	25-50 US dollars.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	Eat at Peso restaurants.

Language

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program?	Advanced
Language acquisition improvement?	I didn't speak as much as I would have liked to.

A Look Back

* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	Do it.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	Arte Cubano
Course Department:
Instructor:
Instruction Language:	Spanish
Comments:	The professor was particularly unhelpful and overall put a damper on my experience while in Cuba.
Credit Transfer Issues:	Everything transferred well.

Course Name/Rating:	Teoria e Ideologia de la Revolucion Cubana
Course Department:
Instructor:	Maria Pilar
Instruction Language:	Spanish
Comments:	It was great. Pilar is a character. Definitely take this class.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Historia de la Cultura Cubana
Course Department:
Instructor:
Instruction Language:
Comments:	This class rarely met. It was nice though, when it did!
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Tendencias del Capitalismo Contemporaneo
Course Department:
Instructor:
Instruction Language:	Spanish
Comments:	AMAZING! Definately take it, Professor is so great.
Credit Transfer Issues: