Paris is great when not in a pandemic. Past Review
By Kenneth Cruz-Flores (University of Hartford) - abroad from 02/04/2020 to 03/17/2020 with
API (Academic Programs International): Paris - Institut Catholique de Paris
I learned more French and I learned that Americans really are obnoxious.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Classes were great. I learned a lot of French. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
It was ok. There should have been better communication towards the end of the program. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The best living in Paris a student could ask for. |
| * Food: |
The food in Paris was amazing. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Parisians are mean and cold. The host family was Corsican do they were much nice that Parisians. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I do not know. |
| * Safety: |
If you take the proper precautions you should be fine. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
Paris was fun. I wish I stayed longer and made French friends. |
Finances
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* 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 fine for me especially since I was with a host family. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | I cannot remember. Maybe 150-200 euros a week. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Budget your money. Keep your coins in Europe. And buy the cheap food, the cheap wine. The crouce food places are great for saving money. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
French was critical for classes and home life. |
| 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? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | French 2 |
| 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? | Just talk more. Listen to music in the language. Watch TV shows. MAKE FRIENDS in the language. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| 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? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | French people are not terribly friendly and racism is more excusable there. |
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 UrbaniteA 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. |
