Southwestern Worse for UK Students
My name is Stuart House and I live in England. I just thought I would drop you a line and say your website is spot on. In 2002 I signed up to the southwestern experience and I must admit I was caught hook line and sinker. I didn’t have the will power to finish the summer; in fact I quit after the first day in the book field and found another job for the summer, however I did continue to live with the others in my team of four due to the generosity of our host and much to the annoyance of the team manager!
The reason for my email is that I think it can be worse for the overseas students, who mostly, like me are drawn by the thought of a summer in the USA. Little do they know they won’t actually get to see any of it.
When I went in 2002 we had to arrange visas and travel through an organization recommended by southwestern. This was £750 ($1500) dollars be for we had even left the country. Add this to the cost of the first week in Nashville, and getting to your sales patch, before you actually get on the book field and this is one expensive trip.
Things go from bad to worse if you decide it is not for you at any point. Bearing in mind all your travel arrangements are through Nashville once you decide to stop they just disown you, whether you have the money to get back to Nashville and change your flight times or not. I consider myself quite switched on but for those who may be are not so confident this can be quite unnerving in a foreign country.
Anyway, not wishing to take up to much of your time, there is a lot more a could tell your about the experiences of overseas students if you are interested. If so let us know. I think this would make a useful addition to your website.
Thanks for taking the time to read this.
S.H.
Cornwall, England.
Received: October 15, 2007
