8 weeks, a whole new perspective on life! Past Review
By A student (Journalism., Brigham Young University) - abroad from 04/25/2012 to 06/09/2012 with
Brigham Young University: Paris - Paris Study Abroad
I gained everything and lost nothing....except money! haha I am a completely new person because I did this. I can dream bigger. The world is bigger. I understand people better and I am more patient with people because of this. I love my life so much more now because of this trip. Worthwhile doesn't even begin to describe it.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I learned so much and it was so much more effective since i actually got to SEE the things i was learning about! |
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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? |
We lived with a French family and that was definitely one of my favorite parts of the semester! |
| * Food: |
Food was beyond amazing. We got to experience real food and 3 times a week the family cooked for us! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt pretty integrated but we were just surrounded by so many americans all of the time because that is who our classes were with that I never truly lost myself in the culture. If i could go back I'd want to spend less time with the americans if i wanted to get more immersed. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
As long as you don't stay out after dark, the city was really safe. I never had any problems-not even with pick pockets. |
| 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) |
We had plenty of money. Sometimes we got a little frugal but that was just to play it safe. |
| * Was housing included in your program cost? | Yes |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | Yes |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | They gave us money for food, i usually spent about 20 on food and depending on where we went like 10 or 20 on souvenirs, etc. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Don't spend all your money on clothes! There are way cooler things to spend it on! |
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 |
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| 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 201 |
| 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? | SPEAK THE LANGUAGE! Don't get casual with that because once you start speaking your own language it is so difficult to discipline yourself to speak the new language. Discipline yourself with the language or you WILL regret it. |
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 just wish I had been more diligent in speaking the language and talking to more locals. |
