<p>Hi WW!</p>
<p>As I understand it, the emphasis in each DIS varies. For example, the students who went to Buenos Aires lived with host families. The focus of that program was language and culture immersion. They had language classes in the AM and either had lectures or went on tours in the afternoon and some evenings. They also did an overnight in Uruguay. One of D’s friends did DIS in Egypt last month. While they did some travel and culture immersion, one of the main focuses of that program was service: Students worked with kids in Sudanese refugee camps. So the focus and goals vary from year to year and DIS to DIS. BTW the academic work begins in the preceding semester.</p>