Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

AIFS Grenoble is where I made some of my best friends. Past Review

By (Berea College) - abroad from 09/01/2016 to 12/17/2016 with

AIFS: Grenoble - University of Grenoble - French Language and Culture and Intensive French Language

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned to be much more independent, to really take control of my own learning, and to loosen up about life and have a good time. It was SO worthwhile.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

AIFS has an incredible ground team in Grenoble--Miranda has been working with American students there for years, and she is lovely. She takes care of everything from schedules to excursions to hospital visits and all of the paper work in between. She really works too hard! (If you happen to see this then I miss you, Miranda!)

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I was placed with a lovely host family in the center of town. They were incredibly kind, helpful, and patient with me.

* Food:

The food is always delicious. It's France.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Thanks to Le Petit Bulletin (the local paper) I was able to attend different art shows, wine tastings, film festivals, and more. My favorite part was the Christmas market.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

While I was there I got kidney stones. It was incredibly painful, but I got help very quickly and it wasn't very expensive.

* Safety:

Grenoble is very safe, although I had a couple of run-ins with the wrong genre. My phone was pickpocketed at one point, but I admit that I wasn't paying as much attention as I should have. I also ran into a couple of men trying to steal a motorbike, and they weren't too happy that I saw. They didn't harm me, though. Grenoble is a city, and it comes along with all of the dangers of a city. Keep your wits about you, especially at night, and you ought to be fine.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Knowing what I do now, I would love to be placed with my host family again, and I would love to spend more time with the friends that I made there. My family was great, and my new friends are second to none.

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

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

It was fairly difficult, but I was going out a lot with friends to explore the city and the surrounding villages. I estimate that I spent somewhere around $100-$150 a week, depending on the activities. I easily could have spent less, and in any other context I probably would have, but it's not every day that you get to study abroad in France!

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $35-$40 for food a week. Other expenses, like shows would push the price up.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Start saving early, because you will really want to spend money while you're there to get the most out of your experience. Be responsible with your cash but don't feel guilty for spending more than you usually would.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

I lived with a French host family and attended a French university, so I really had no choice.

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Intermediate
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Advanced
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? French 310
How many hours per day did you use the language?
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Really engage with your host family the best you can. You don't have to be their best friend, but don't sit silent during dinner or in the living room. Try to get involved in the conversation. At the university, DO YOUR HOMEWORK. It's not that hard, they understand that you're a foreigner and you won't get everything, and they don't really grade you on much besides your exams, so just do it so that you can participate in class and bring that knowledge back to your host family.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The new friends I made.
  • The city of Grenoble.
  • The food, the wine, and the tobacco.
* What could be improved?
  • I could've not gotten kidney stones.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew about all of the fun places I would visit so that I could've prioritized them. Whoever is reading this, go to Barberousse and Le Couche Tard. They're both in the center of town.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you.
The Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.