Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Rigorous and Very Guided! Past Review

By (Wellesley College) - abroad from 08/26/2019 to 12/10/2020 with

SIT Study Abroad: IHP Food Systems - Agriculture, Sustainability, and Justice

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Agroecological farming is the way to go. But also, it really is a life-changing experience! I am so grateful to have gone on this program, pushed beyond my limitations, and learned from so many different people.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

My favorite academic aspect was talking to local peoples and communities, visiting their farms/startups/etc, and experiential learning. We took 4 courses throughout the program, and we had guest lecturers from each country.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

We stayed with host families at each country.

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Visiting each country and talking to locals/government workers was really informative. I also loved exploring the cities we were in, etc. However, the program was very rigorous with very little down time and freedom.

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)

We had a stipend and food was usually provided.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $0-$100 depending on the country

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

In each country we had at least an introductory language course which was very helpful!

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? None
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Beginner
How many hours per day did you use the language?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
  • Hostel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* 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?
  • The people we met and talked to
  • Learning about tradition (esp in terms of agriculture)
  • Food
* What could be improved?
  • Group relations
  • Advisory
  • Free time
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? There is little free time, and when there is, I'd use it to catch up on rest and alone time.

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.