An Amazing Experience Improved by a Great Staff! Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Being able to take a course at an excellent German university and sharing it with students from a variety of home countries allowed me to become especially immersed in learning the way that German university students learn. The small classroom setting, led by a very knowledgeable professor, was an excellent way of learning, and the material has proven useful in courses that I've taken since getting back from Germany.

On-site administration of your program

Our on-site AIFS representative, Nele, was excellent, and I'm very grateful for all of her help while I was in Berlin. She hosted several optional cultural activities for people that wanted a more structured way of seeing the city, and was consistently available to provide support any way she could, but also allowed for a more independent experience if that's what students preferred. I appreciated the fact that I knew I could count on her but that she wasn't pushy, and it allowed me to balance personal travel with group activities.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived in a fully-furnished apartment near campus with two other AIFS students, and the set-up was wonderful--comfortable, secure, and close to metro and bus stops to make moving through the city especially easy. Worth mentioning are the facts that there was no internet connection, and that the apartment buildings on the street share one laundry room which made washing clothes difficult due to availability. Besides those qualms, however, the location and comforts offered made the housing situation generally enjoyable.

We were given meal cards that were usable at the university's cafeteria, and the food there was excellent, but I typically preferred to eat at local restaurants and occasionally more familiar chain restaurants. A local staple is Doner, a Turkish kebab that is beloved by the locals I talked to.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I never forgot that I was a visitor, especially when it came to dealing with the language barrier, and I think that I would have felt more integrated if I had stayed there longer than a winter term. I did feel generally comfortable living in a way that a typical university student would, however, and adjusting to the new schedule was relatively easy.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I'm not the best person to review this aspect, since the only health issue I experienced was a mild cold, but my on-site staff member did point out ways to get the medication I needed for it, so I do appreciate that help.

Berlin is generally a safe city, and I didn't run into any problems while I was there. My advice is just to behave the way you would in any other major city--stay alert and aware of your surroundings, know the emergency number, and keep an eye on your bags if you're carrying them.

If I didn't pick this program, I would pick a program that was longer than three weeks so that I could become even more immersed in the experience!

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

I struggled a fair bit with money management, especially near the end of the program.

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• Apartment

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• Americans

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• Americans
• International Students

• Daily learning experiences
• Opportunities for cultural excursions
• Consistent support from staff

• Lack of Internet in the apartments
• More initial guidance in adjusting to life abroad
• More opportunities to interact with international students

The Nearly Native or Trail Blazer