An amazing exotic experience, best 5 months of my life, couldn't have asked for anything more! Past Review
By Meghan B (Hotel Restaurant Tourism Management, University of Wisconsin - Stout) for
UW-Platteville Education Abroad at the University of the South Pacific (USP)
Absolutely! i have a better understanding on the meaning of life. I learned so many things inside and outside the classroom. This experience I know will help me in my future career. Although at times I was very frustrated with some situations the overall experience was amazing and a 10!!! Best decission to study abroad in Fiji.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
Very difficult finding healthy foods |
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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? |
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| * Safety: |
University of the South Pacific health facilities were not up to par, very different than America. Although I never got sick, a few of my friends got hurt and ill and the on campus clinic was not helpful. They would just prescribe medicines you could pick up at the pharmacy. One of my friends jumped off a waterfall cliff into water and landed on her chest wrong and she went to the university's clinic and they prescribed her cough medicane. With most of my family in the medical field, I knew of course this was not the right diagnosis at all. I always felt safe in Suva, just took some getting used too. Make sure you ride with someone else in the taxis whenever you use they just for your safety. I recieved vaccines for Typhloid and Hepatitas A before I left. Although I had no health issues, another girl got Hepatitas A while her stay in fiji at a village. It is issential future students talk to their health care providers and make sure they are updated on their shots and get required and proper vaccines. |
| 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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | around $US60 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Be careful in the beginning with spending, although the exchange rate in Fiji is 2/1 and everything seems half off, money can still get spent too fast. Understand that banks take off fees on debit and credit cards, so if they use debit cards, use the ATM at a minimum to avoid additional bank fees. |
Language
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Dont have any glamorized views on anyplace you are going. If you dont have any expectations you will either be pleasently surprised or extremely disapointed. Everywhere on the planet is not like America, so go into it with an open mind and ready to experience life a different way, it WILL make you a better person. If something is bothering you or something doesnt go your way, realize how lucky you are to have this experience, it will build charector and a good story to tell your family and friends when you get home. |
