Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

It's Worth It Past Review

By (University of the Pacific) - abroad from 09/02/2013 to 12/14/2013 with

University of Minnesota: Senegal - MSID - International Development in Senegal

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
There is really too much to put simply and eloquently. I learned a lot about the Senegalese culture as well as my own. How I interpreted and reacted to certain situations taught me a lot about how I view things from an American point of view as well as gaining a different perspective from the Senegalese. I saw how development functions in an educational environment as well as a professional from my work as an intern in another city. I became more patient having to deal with problems on a daily basis that are not things we think about back in the states.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

There was not a lot of outside work or supplemental material aside from the class lectures.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The staff and administration were very nice and helpful, but there were some issues with communication regarding changes in schedules or anything else relating to the program.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

My host families were very nice, and I believe for the most part they followed the rules established by the program. However, there were a few times when I think one of my host families ignored some of the rules and had me do things that was specifically directed to be the family's responsibility and not mine.

* Food:

The food was good. Only got sick once my entire time here. Not a lot of variation for meals though. A lot of rice and fish.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Living with local families definitely helped me to get a better sense of the culture-seeing what the Senegalese do on a day to day basis. But sometimes I felt like my presence was not entirely always welcome, and I felt ignored and more of a burden at times.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I had an eye infection and an infected bug bite. The program provided me with the necessary medication for me at no extra cost.

* Safety:

Like any big city, there will be safety concerns. There is one area of the city that is specifically known for being unsafe, but the program warned and cautioned us about the area, and we received all of the security notices and crime alerts from the embassy whenever there was an incident. Most of the crimes were thefts and muggings.

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)

Things are very inexpensive here; however, because of that, it is very easy to spend more money than intended. Little costs add up over a period of time. But the main expenses here have been lunch, personal expenses, travel, and a few costs from the program like the visa renewal and the cost to buy a phone in country and the credits along with it. Water too. Lots of water.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Around $20-30
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Create a budget and know beforehand what kind of travel and how many gifts you're prepared to buy. Having an idea as to how much you're willing to spend will be beneficial in the long run. It will save you from spending more than you want. Also, if you create a budget, figure out how much money to withdrawl from the ATMs because the costs from the bank can be a killer. Avoid withdrawing money unless completely necessary.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

There were two language components to the program: French and Wolof. There are not a lot of English speakers here, so it was nearly impossible to escape the two languages in general. The families spoke both, so the professors would encourage us to practice at home and at the markets.

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Intermediate
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Intermediate
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? French 25
How many hours per day did you use the language?
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Just talk. There is not really any other way to learn other than to just talk and practice. It also helps to read local articles or watch local tv stations that are speaking in the language. Not only will you be practicing your language but you will also be learning more about what is going on in your town or country by keeping up with the local news.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
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?
  • The separate parts of the program: the academics and the intership
  • the focus on development
* What could be improved?
  • More cultural excursions to see more of the country and see more cultural activities
  • Better communication between past students and future students. Students need to be more aware of the realities of the program rather than just hearing the romanticized version of everything.
  • The program taking responsability for problems students have during their stay rather than ignoring it.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I was more aware of the realities of daily life here. All the information I had were romanticized notions of the program, and the realities-though not terrible by any means-just need to be addressed so students can be aware of them. Also knowing how past students dealt with the problems would be a helpful tool in case the future students come across the same problems and can have a point of reference.

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 Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!