Most eye-opening and great experience! Past Review
By Evelyn (International Relations And Global Studies, The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 06/20/2012 to 08/08/2012 with
Bogazici University: Istanbul - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
My Turkish improved so much. I learned about local culture when I asked about it. This study abroad experience was worthwhile!
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. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
They are awesome at emailing back! but when going to their office and trying to get answers is difficult. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Superdorm is very close to campus and you get to meet other americans who are in the program. but during the summer they allow non-student to live there, so there can be babies, elderly, etc. so being quite after 10 is usually enforced. |
| * Food: |
The food was amazing! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
ESN had a lot of events, but unfortunately the members kind of kept to themselves at events or talked to other Turkish people. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I called the ISS for advice, then there is suppose to be a 24 hour medical clinic but when I went for an eye infection they were closed? There are stray dogs everywhere, so if I would go back I would get the rabies vaccination to be safe. |
| * Safety: |
Istanbul is a safe place in touristy places. I never had a problem riding a cab. I would be very cautious with belongings, being pick pocketed/trying to be pick pocketed is almost normal in Taksim. Due to American tv shows/movies, American women need to be a little more aware of their surroundings in crowded places. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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) |
Traveling, going out, etc. can get expensive! So I ate cheaply, usually spending $4 a meal, and eating twice a day. |
| * Was housing included in your program cost? | No |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | No |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | I spent around 250 liras a week, so about $140 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | USE THE BUSES, unless there is a group of 3 or 4 taxi fare can start adding up. Also, eat cheaply when possible! I tried to eat on $5 a meal. |
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 never came across this. |
| 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 |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 3 semesters of Turkish |
| 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? | PUT YOURSELF OUT THERE. I was never asked to speak Turkish, but I did anyways when speaking at restaurants, shopping, etc. The locals are extremely grateful for foreigners speaking turkish. |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Direct Enrollment |
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? | Istanbul is different from the rest of the country, I wish I would have planned more trips outside the city. |
