SIT Study Abroad: Vietnam: Culture, Social Change & Dev.

Vietnam was like nowhere I've been before. Upon arrival, I was most shocked with how kind everyone was to me. I was clearly an outsider. I was attempting to cross a street on my first day in Ho Chi Minh City when I realize I had no idea how to get across. There basically weren't traffic lights, or at least they weren't enforced (DO NOT try to drive a motorbike in HCMC, it's fun enough to be a passenger!), so I stood helplessly on the side of the street until an older man came up. I didn't speak Vietnamese and he didn't speak English but he gestured across the street, inquiring if I needed help. He proceeded to walk with me across the street and then smiled and waved goodbye as he effortlessly crossed back. This marked the start to four months of unforgettable experiences with my study abroad program through SIT. We traveled everywhere from the rural Mekong Delta to the beautiful rice paddies of northern Vietnam. We stayed with homestay families (not one student had a poor experience) in different districts around Ho Chi Minh for the first two months and had the freedom to explore the city as we pleased after class and during weekends. Usually, our teachers offered weekend trips (to cities on the coast with beaches, bike rides, and new food!) but you could decide how you wanted to spend your time. We did several longer trips to Central Vietnam (which has the best food), the south, and up North to Hanoi near the end of the program. For the last month, I did an independent study on tourism in Vietnam and stayed with 6 other students in an Airbnb in Hanoi (we each paid only $4 a night for a great place!). You can get amazing food for almost nothing (a huge bowl of pho with beef can be as cheap as $1) and I never got food sickness (though that doesn't mean you shouldn't be careful when buying street food). Would also recommend the smoothies they sell at stands (made with condensed milk, of course). I spent four months exploring Vietnam and I still feel like there is so much more to see and do and I've merely scratched the surface. I would absolutely recommend Vietnam for any travel experience, but certainly for study abroad through SIT because the program has incredible contacts and resources for you to use. For example, when I decided to study tourism, my academic director paired me with the Dean of the Economics School of Ho Chi Minh City as my adviser. To my surprise, Vietnam was exceptionally safe and I never felt like I was in a bad situation. All in all, Vietnam has been the best experience abroad I've had to date.

I was hesitant about going to Vietnam, but I LOVED it! I felt like I learned so much and the SIT staff was so valuable in helping me to acclimate and build community and experience Vietnam. I could not recommend this program more, and the four months I spent there were some of the best of my life. I felt like I learned and experienced so much every day, and for that,​ I am forever grateful!

Overall, being part of the SIT Vietnam Culture, Social Change, and Development boosted my confidence and abilities to be independent and versatile. Travelling internationally became an enlightening and fun experience to meet new people and cultures. Being able to widen my cultural immersions, global perspective, and foreign discoveries gave direction toward a path I wanted to seek and be an active global citizen. My time with SIT abroad gave me the opportunity to meet, understand, and appreciate the multiculturalism that is around me. My experience is Vietnam was very unique as I went knowing the language at an intermediary level. The SIT staff members, faculty, and student volunteers were all extremely nice and forthcoming. They were very eager to help and show us around on their mopeds. In addition to the support of the staff and host families, our travels throughout the country was exquisite. We got to see lots of different cities, environments (delta, mountains, urban, rural), climates, nonprofit works, etc. Getting to see a grand tour of the whole country was nice and pleasant. The coursework was also very self-oriented which is a style of teaching I preferred as I have more room for interpretation of my writing direction and project. Biggest thing I got from the experience is the travel bug, and life-long friends. I had the opportunity to travel with my local peers and revisit them during a graduation trip back! I did significantly improve my language as well, placing Advance-mid for my speaking and Advance-low for reading and writing. I hope others take on the time study abroad experience!