An educational and powerful adventure 7,000 miles away from home Past Review
By A student (International Relations And Global Studies, Tufts University) - abroad from 01/16/2012 to 04/28/2012 with
University of Minnesota - MSID: International Development in Kenya
I grew personally and became more able to live independently. I also learned how to work and live with different people from diverse backgrounds. I have a new perspective about the role of government for its people and learned about poverty and social programs from people struggling to get by daily.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The semester was separated into classes and then a research/internship phase. Learning about Kenyan-specific history, culture, politics, economics, etc. allowed me to better engage with the environment and more fully understand the context what I was seeing daily. The program combines academic coursework with experiential learning, which proved to be the most valuable portion of the trip for me. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The staff was constantly available for any needs of the students. The staff had close connections with host families and could serve as a connection between you and the family. After dealing with so many American students, they had a strong understanding of possible cultural shock/ barriers. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
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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? |
For the students who did get sick on the program, they were moved to Nairobi and seen by specialists at a private hospital. |
| * Safety: |
The program staff took appropriate actions to deal with dangerous environments and other incidents in the city (living in the capital is generally unsafe) when they did occur. |
| 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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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 |
A large portion of Kenyans students come into contact with speak English, but the program encourages you to use Swahili with your host families. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Beginner |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? |
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? | Go with no expectations. |
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. |
