Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Living in a Culture Opposite of my Comfort Zone Past Review

By (Berea College) - abroad from 01/28/2019 to 05/16/2019 with

USAC Uruguay: Montevideo - Spanish Language, Agribusiness, Viticulture, and Gender Studies

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
My spanish immersion and exposure to the workings of sustainability in Latin America was incredible. I gained so much experience and knowledge in a new region I had no priors.

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.

Some classes were INCREDIBLE SO HELPFUL SO EXCITING AND STIMULATING. Others were less than I desired with lack of resources and structure

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Orlando was SO HELPFUL.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Incredible apartment that was close to school and very safe.

* Food:

Uruguay is very meat centered and being a vegan was just great experience for cooking all of my own meals.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Easily accessible

* Safety:

I felt very safe all of the time

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

I think I would go to a different country because I wanted a stronger culture in general (Uruguayan culture is not particular in food, activities, dance, etc) but I learned a lot and really appreciate my environment immersion and the friends I made.

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)

I never struggled personally, but I was very financially aware and cooked all of my meals

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $50
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Cook your own meals and be conscious of the money you spend on drinks. I saw so many friends blow crazy amounts of money on alcohol.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
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?
  • Environment Classes
  • Local Immersion in class
  • Discussion based class
* What could be improved?
  • Women and Gender study class needed work between expectations of professor and students
  • Class blocks of conversation into spanish being back to back and sooo long
  • Feedback for grades in general and in a timely manner
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Location of residences where people were living. I lucked out to live super close to the school, but my friends were a 30 minute walk away. That knowledge would have been nice to know for them before coming because bus expenses were very different. Also that we weren't studying with anyone but who was in the USAC specific program

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 Adventurer
The 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.