"Amsterdam - The Most Magical Experience" Past Review
By Austy W (Politics and Government, University of Hartford) for
CIEE: Amsterdam - Social Sciences + Humanities
I gained the best understanding of myself and how to let go and be happy.
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. |
The grading system was different as well as difficult since the Dutch do not care as much about their grades as American's. It was based on a ten point scale and you were told you couldn't acheive anything higher than an eight. It was at times very discouraging and did not always make you want to try to hard since you were almost set up for failure. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The leaders in the CIEE - Amsterdam program were so nice and extremely helpful in the best of their ability. They kept in touch with us as well as gave us the freedom we wanted. They were also always there if you needed them regardless of an emergency or just to say hello as a student I did not feel umcomfortable approaching them. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The sheets were given to us. I loved my room I lived on Plantage Muidergracht that overlooked the canal it was so beautiful and I miss it very much. The people in my dorm were all so nice and we always got together as much as we could the R.A. were also very helpful with getting potlucks and hang outs ready. |
| * Food: |
If you do not like dairy - do not go to the netherlands. It is so delicious there! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
One of the excursions took us through parts of Holland we would not have seen if it wasn't for our program leaders - it was such a blast and a great experience to see other parts of the Netherlands. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Since much is tolerable in the Netherlands espeically Amsterdam it was a relatively safe country - there was lots of police patrolling the streets. There health care system took care of there people much of the medical needs were inexpensive compared to those of the United States. |
| 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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | I don't know what I exactly did with my money but about every week I would take out 250 euros. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Just know that you are going to spend a lot of money - budget as much as you can esepcially with groceries - home cooked meals are the best. But it is also the best experience I have ever encountered so spending some of that extra money to go ice skatting or to buy frittes is totally worth it. |
Language
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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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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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? | If you love to have fun, go with the flow, carefree, and always want to be happy. Amsterdam is the place for you it is beautiful at times can be cold and rainy but you will be able to find sunshine anyday/ anytime. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Nuclear Proliferation |
| Course Department: | |
| Instructor: | Saira Khan |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | It was a different and challenging course but it focused on very interesting theories and facts about nuclear proliferation and the articles we read were relevant and interesting to the course. The professor was amazing and very passionate about the course which made the students become involved in group discussion. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | N/A |
