API is lackluster, but Paris isn’t March 04, 2022
By Sara C (University of Hartford) - abroad from 08/22/2021 to 12/18/2021 with
API (Academic Programs International): Paris - Parsons Paris - The New School
I thought I would have an epiphany, a great realization, and I didn’t. That doesn’t mean it wasn’t worthwhile, it just means I was unrealistic.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I got an apartment in the 13th independently without API or uhart which was the best choice for me, and the speaking with other API students it seemed to be the smarter choice |
| * Food: |
I decided to stay vegan during my trip so getting food at restaurants was a bit hard, but the grocery store carried everything I need. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I made friends outside of API and that truly helped and saved my experience in Paris |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
API was always unable to answer my questions properly |
| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
API was sloppy and uncoordinated. I made friends outside/without API that I love and changed my life, but if I went to Paris on a different program I still would have met them since they weren’t in my program. |
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) |
I spent about 25 euro a week on groceries, and I maybe ate out once every other week. I got coffee about 3 times a week for an extra 15 euro per week. I would buy some gifts when I saw something that reminded me of family so I would say I probably spent about 50 euro a week, sometimes more sometimes less. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | About 50 euro a week |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Just save up as much money as you can before you can go so you don’t have to limit yourself. I know that sounds like a Boomer tip but work that extra summer job, walk some neighborhood dogs, just to be able to not have limits. You never want to go to a store and not be able to buy something you love. Also, there are jobs that you can get once abroad, they may not be ideal, like dog walking, but you don’t interact with people and it’s very minimal hours. |
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 |
I did not attend API events regularly, I often times felt ostracized by them. Outside of API, the friends I made in the international area forced me to sharpen my language skills. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Intermediate |
| How many hours per day did you use 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? | 10+ |
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? | There are other way to make friends outside your program. API pushed how dangerous everything and everyone was, they said don’t make eye contact with people, but explore outside your program. |
