An unforgettable cultural experience Past Review

By Owen M (University of Kansas) - abroad from 01/15/2015 to 05/15/2015 with

USAC Brazil: Florianópolis - International Business, Environmental/Conservation Management, and Latin American Studies

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

It was an amazing, unforgettable experience totally worth my while. I gained a new understanding and appreciation of Brazilian culture and the Portuguese language, had unforgettable experiences, and forged relationships that will last a lifetime.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program?	None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.	The language instruction was the best I have ever had, but for the most part, the academic classes were disorganized, with unclear expectations, and unclear instruction.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program	The staff was awesome. From the first tour, through the various day trips, moving showings, visa help, all the way to following up when I got home, there is nothing more I could ask of the staff. Each staff member was personable, more than willing to help with our Portuguese, local advice and perspective, and provided an atmosphere that made going to the USAC office fun.
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	My host family and I still talk almost every day. There were more than hosts and considered me a son, brother, and uncle, and I consider them family. They made me feel at home and made my family in the states rest easy knowing that I was well taken care of. I had plenty of space and privacy, while also experiencing family life in a different culture. Homestay is definitely the way to go in Floripa.
* Food:	My family provided me with all the meals I could ever want and more. The local restaurant scene is very good with affordable options as well as fancier locations. My single biggest expense was my daily açaí consumption at the place right next to the USAC office.
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	Making friends in Florianopolis was easy and the staff helped facilitate local integration greatly.
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?	While travelling on my own away from the program, I found myself in the hospital with food poisoning. I didn't pay a cent for my treatment, and the USAC staff helped me with the student insurance for the medicine I had to take after returning to Floripa. What would have been a nightmare in the U.S. was a breeze in Brazil. Brazil has a few vaccination requirements.
* Safety:	Floripa is one of the safer places in Brazil, but precautions have to be taken. I never had any close calls, but I heard of a few people who ran into trouble.
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)	The dollar was very valuable compared the the Real while I was there. That plus the low cost of living and program support made it easier. There were lots of scholarship opportunities.
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	about $25-75 dollars a week.

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	The start of the program was an intensive Portuguese period that was very beneficial, day to day I had the opportunity to practice with the staff, and they facilitated local Brazilian students as conversation partners.
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?	Advanced
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure?	Third Semester
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?	Living in a homestay with a family that doesn't speak English around you, and talking to them daily is the best way to get better at the language.

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?	Host family Language Acquisition Cultural learning
* What could be improved?	Academic Courses
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	I wish I had come with a greater deal of language knowledge, had I come with four semester of Portuguese knowledge, I think I could have come back with a very advanced level of the language.

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!

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	Trade in the Americas: Mercosul and NAFTA
Course Department:	Econ
Instructor:	Daniel Correa
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	I would not recommend this class. Despite numerous promises and requests, the students were never given a syllabus or grading scale. There was one project that was worth the entirety of this class's grade, and being one of the first to present meant that my partner and I gave our presentation before he emailed out the guidelines for the presentation. We gave the presentation cold, without any instruction, to be told it wasn't exactly specific enough in certain areas. As a result, I received an A- in this class, despite never even knowing the grading scale or presentation requirements.
Credit Transfer Issues: