Trinidad – St. Augustine: Spring 2017
Trinidad – St. Augustine: Spring 2017
University of the West Indies
Focus
Program is geared to but not limited to Social Sciences. It focuses on
the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago as a case study of the social,
political, and cultural changes in the Caribbean region from colonial
times to the present.
Location
Situated nine miles off the Venezuelan coast, the Republic of Trinidad
and Tobago enjoys a tropical climate and renowned for its impressive
mountain ranges and rich tropical flora and fauna. The islands, located
in the southernmost part of the Caribbean, gained independence from
the British in 1962.
Culture
The post-colonial period has been marked by a strong though
insufficiently diversified economy based on a developing oil and gas
industry in Trinidad and tourism in Tobago. While English is the
republic’s official language, the diverse population of Black, Chinese,
Indian, and South Asian Trinidadians speak several languages and
share a wide variety of traditional and contemporary Caribbean
customs and cuisine. A past participant recommends “trying ALL the
food Trinidad and the Caribbean has to offer. Expect cuisine to be
spicy and cheap—sometimes full meals would be only 3 USD.” She
continues describing Trinidad as a laid back place, “Trini time is often
just a guideline so everything is done at a slower pace. Because of
this, expect service (restaurants, businesses, etc) to be slower paced
as well but don't get worked up about it, just relax!”
Another returnee says: “It was absolutely beautiful to be walking to and
from class everyday and just see the mountains. At dusk the sky turns
pink and orange and it's so pretty. St. Augustine is a smaller city, more
village-like. Port of Spain is a more built up busy city, whereas St.
Augustine is more rural and peaceful.”
Application Info
Application Due Date: Oct. 25, 2016
Class Standing Requirement:
Soph (8 academic units) or
Jr (17 academic units)
**Jrs admitted if space available
GPA Requirement: Minimum of 2.5
Language of Instruction: English
Language Requirement: None
Program Info
Program Type: Group 1 Program
Program Length: Short term
Program Fee: $17,864 (2016)
Program Dates: Mid March to Early June
Housing: Dormitory or apartment arranged by the
the University. Meals are taken in campus
restaurants.
Typical Courses: Sociology of the Caribbean
(ANSO), Government Politics of the Caribbean
(POLS), or Literature and Society in the
Caribbean (LIT)
Enrollment: Min of 6, Max of 10
Visa: Participants that hold a U.S. Passport do not
need to apply for a visa if they are in Trinidad less than
90 days. Contact Heather Garcia if you do not have a
U.S. passport.
More on ST. Augustine…
Credit Transfer
Students must earn the equivalent of a C in the local grading system
to receive credit for coursework completed abroad. Academic credit
for only one first-year course can be transferred to Kalamazoo
College. The remaining courses must be at the second or third-year
level. Coursework must be completed and turned in before the end of
the academic program or no credit will be given. Grades from all
eligible study abroad courses will appear on the Kalamazoo transcript
but are not included in the Kalamazoo grade point average.
Want to Learn More?
Learn more about this program here:
http://sta.uwi.edu/
Check out Hornet Passport:
http://kalamazoo.studioabroad.com/index.cf
m?FuseAction=Programs.SimpleSearch
E-mail your CIP Peer Advisors:
[email protected]. They may be able to
connect you with students who have
returned from this program!
Students on the Short-Term program must enroll in the equivalent of 3
K-Units. No partial credit is given. In cases where students must
combine courses to achieve the minimum number of contact hours for
Look for announcements for the
Smorgasbords, Sophomore Meeting and
the Study Abroad Study Away Fair.
a unit of credit, both courses must be from the same discipline.
Students earn 1 K-Unit in Sociology/Anthropology and 2 K-Units in
Political Science.
Student Comments
St. Augustine can be a lot of fun. If you go out and make friends
with the local students and such, you'll be shown an amazing
time. They'll show you everything you need to know. If you sit
around campus for 3 months, you're going to be scared to death
to leave the fenced in area. This program is geared towards
people who are outgoing and willing to be open with strangers.
Don't try any of the more "American" restaurants. The local food is
soooo much better and tastier. There are some great small places
to get local food for lunch and dinner right on campus; plus they're
really cheap for the amount of food they give you.
The rest of the country is really quite nice. It’s not a crowded
island there is lots and lots of farmland, rainforest, places to camp,
bike trails, waterfalls, and beaches.
Get to know your TA’s—they can show you a lot of the sights you
don't get to see as a group.
I miss the soca music and the local food the most. Doubles, shark
and bake, callaloo, and roti were some of our favorite foods.
This document contains the most accurate information
available at time of publication. Statements contained
herein are not contractual obligations, and verbal or other
representations that are inconsistent with or not contained
within the Academic Catalogue’s offerings or policies are not
binding. Kalamazoo College and the Center for International
Programs each reserves the right to cancel, suspend, or
change without specific notice, programs, offerings, policies,
procedures, qualifications, fees, and other conditions of its
study abroad program. Rev. Date 8/16