A summer abroad in Brussels was the best thing to happen in my life so far. Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The teaching was very similar to my home university because the professor used Powerpoint for his class. It was a small class, consisting of only 10 students, so the professor learned our names rather quickly. He had field experience working as a lobbyist in the EU, and since that was the class topic, it was very interesting to hear his stories. The grading system was a little different, the number grades didn't correlate with the letter grade assigned the same as in the US. For example, an 85 is an A-.

On-site administration of your program

The program size was great, there were 24 students from around the country. The office hours for Emily were a bit limited and I wasn't always able to make it during the designated times. The activities planned through CIEE were great and very enjoyable, though they did not leave much room for those who didn't feel comfortable participating. My expectations were definitely surpassed and I had an amazing 2 months in Brussels.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

My housing was AMAZING! I was in great location and the house I lived in was very nice. Two other girls from the CIEE program lived in the house with me. Some of the other rooms were rented by women from Spain, England, and Ukraine. It was a very diverse house and it was great to learn things about people from other cultures.

It can be hard for vegetarians to find meatless foods. I was not a vegetarian on my trip, but another student was and he had a difficult time at restaurants.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Kayaking in the Ardennes, visiting a lambic beer brewery, and Ommegang were great events that were planned for us!

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Listen to your program directors when they tell you areas to avoid. I made the mistake of going past the canal one day, when we were told during orientation to not wander there, and it was not a good experience. I was being followed by a man who was making me very nervous and had to call my friend from the program to stay on the phone with me while I tried to get away from him. This was the only negative experience I had while in Brussels, and that was due to my own poor judgement. No vaccines were necessary, and I did not need any health services while I was abroad.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

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