Istanbul Seviyorum! (I love Istanbul) Past Review
By Nicole B (Politics, Bates College) - abroad from 01/08/2015 to 05/30/2015 with
Bogazici University: Istanbul - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
My experience was more than worthwhile. I learned so much about the culture and politics of a country caught between Europe and the Middle East. I made lifelong friends and learned how to be more independent and confident in myself. I also discovered my passion for travel and how this was the first of many experiences abroad.
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. |
The courses through IES were engaging and fun and had great staff. However, they were not very challenging. The courses at Bogazici University were more rigorous but my home college prepared me well. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
One of our main program coordinators left half way through the program but it did not affect me that much directly. All of us were very happy with the replacement staff member and could rely on her. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I loved my roommates but I expected to live with Turkish students not other exchange students. I also wish we did not like that we had to pay for laundry and the gym when we had to pay more to live in the dorms while those in the apartments paid less and had these services included. |
| * Food: |
Turkish food is amazing! There was so much fresh produce that was affordable. The university food was very cheap but you got what you paid for and was not very appealing. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I believe this depended on your appearance. I had darker hair but I still did not look very Turkish so I felt like others viewed me as a foreigner immediately. I learned a lot about Turkish culture from interacting with my Turkish friends. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
There were so many pharmacies throughout the city and nearby so if I ever needed anything I was fine. Some things were very expensive though, especially sunscreen and melatonin(great at helping me adjust to the time difference). |
| * Safety: |
Safety is dependent on your sex unfortunately. I would have to be with a man at night but I felt comfortable in most neighborhoods with other women or by myself. There were some violent incidents in the city during my experience but we were always notified when such incidents took place and where to avoid. |
| 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) |
Food and transportation was very cheap compared to that of the US. Laundry was actually quite expensive. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Probably less than $50 each week |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Buying fresh produce was always very cheap and sometimes I would hand wash my own laundry to save 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 |
It was very easy to navigate the city without using much Turkish. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Beginner |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | None |
| 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? | Make friends with Turkish students that do not know English well so you are forced to practice your Turkish. |
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? | I did not expect to miss Turkey so much once I returned to the US. The US feels so boring and I did not expect to like a city experience in a foreign country that is so different than the US so much. So, I wish I appreciated every day more since I will never have another experience like it again! |
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 NetworkerAn active student leader, it was important for you to network abroad as well. Once overseas, you sought out student clubs, volunteered with local organizations, or attended community events. You encouraged your friends join you, and often considered how you could reflect your international experiences in a resume. |
