Potentially a great experience (but not for me) Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Workload: Very light, classes were not very focused. Grading: Easy, optional to write assignments in French. You can get by without doing much but the professors do recognize if you go above and beyond which is nice. Differences in educational systems: Professors took a very "top down" approach to teaching which I believe is more in the French tradition than in the American one. ie: lecture based, little class participation encouraged, don't question what the teacher is saying. Academic level: I suppose it depends on your home university but I found the academic level of the courses to be near high school level, not college. Professors did little to challenge me and I found what they were saying to be out of touch and dated. Not impressed considering this program has run for many years with many of the same teachers.

On-site administration of your program

Overall, staff was very friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. The program was organized in the ways that count the most. They had a good grasp on safety and ways to make American students feel most at ease. At the Dakar school center, things ran smoothly. The breakdown occurred when they took us for class field trips. While certainly not dangerous, trips had little to no focus and staff did not prepare us for how long we would have to wait between activities. I understand there are cultural differences and that folks especially in more rural areas run on a more relaxed schedule however, we were given in many instances no alternative but to sit around in chairs and talk to our fellow American students.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Host family in Dakar: Nice and accommodating but they had hosted so many students over the years that I was little more than a source of income. I was mostly ignored and no treated like part of the family. I also did not really have any host brothers/sisters so maybe that was part of it. Host family in St. Louis: I was the first student they had ever hosted. The family was absolutely wonderful and I think of them often. Very giving, friendly, and interesting. They sensed I was having a hard time adjusting to living in Senegal so they were there when I needed them but also gave me my space when needed.

One has to have a wide variety of tastes to be successful food wise on this program. The cuisine is repetitive but the dishes they do have are very good and unique. It is a requirement to like rice and fish. I would also recommend not being too squeamish about how much oil is used for cooking. Breakfast is baguette with butter and/or this nutella-like spread. Lunch and dinner consist of a giant shared plate of rice with fish or goat meat (maybe some other meats but it's hard to tell as everything is covered in sauce). Thats about it. Veggies are rare as they are expensive and hard to ensure they are clean. A final note: if you have a sensitive stomach, be extra careful. Most of the students did get some sort of food or water related illness. All students were totally fine and ill only for a day or two. Don't drink the water, just don't do it. Senegalese do as they have grown up drinking it and are used to it. As an American, as much as you may want to do as little as possible to seem different, drinking the water is really just not smart. You can risk it and may be fine but this is how most of the students got sick. Bottled water is not that expensive and you can buy it in large jugs.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Senegalese are very kind and welcoming for the most part. But as an American you WILL attract attention so be ready. It is common for children to point and call out to you. If you a female, men will also give you attention (sometimes a marriage proposal) but there actions are harmless and rarely obscene or at all physical. That said, like many cultures that are so different from our own, it can be hard to get used to.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I felt safe in Senegal at all times. The only crime that is prevalent (as in many other cities around the world, including in the US and Europe) is petty theft. I got my cellphone stolen twice. One was visible in my unlocked host family provided room. One was in my backpack pocket, the thief trailed me and plucked it out. Both instances as you can see, could have been avoided. I just wasn't as careful as I should have been.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

FRENCH: While certainly not passing for a native speaker, my French was fluent enough at the time I entered the program. The students in the program who had fulfilled the French requirement but were still not able to speak very well certainly struggled much more. If you would not feel comfortable alone in a French speaking nation, I would not recommend the program. It's hard enough when one knows French as the West African accent is very different. WOLOF: To further complicate matters, Senegal has several official languages besides French. Most Senegalese speak Wolof and often at least one other regional language. Only educated Senegalese speak French so I you really want to immerse yourself in the culture, you better already have a good handle on French so that you devote more time to learning Wolof. Most locals would much rather you speak Wolof to them than French anyways. Overall: You can get by with just knowing French and a few words of Wolof like I did. However, observing some of my peers who chose to immerse themselves more fully, knowing Wolof can be very beneficial, otherwise you will easily be left out of many conversations.

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• Host Family

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• Host Family

• My second host family, exploring St. Louis (a creepy, crumbling colonial city), the chance to read so many books with all my free time.

• Before I went, I was given the chance to email/talk with a former student of the program. I emailed the person provided and never heard back. I felt like the program actually did not want you to speak with anyone.