The Semester I Learned About my Heritage May 24, 2026
By A student (Psychology, Brandeis University) - abroad from 01/25/2026 to 05/09/2026 with
CIEE: Lisbon - Language and Culture
I learned how to travel solo, I booked many flights and coordinated many things on my own.
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 classes were not very difficult nor intense. The professors were very approachable and caring. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
My program was great, very caring, they even took me to the hopsital and waited with me for hours when I was feeling sick. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived further from campus which was difficult at times but I loved my housing. It allowed me to get much closer to people in my program. |
| * Food: |
I love Portuguese food so much as it reminds me of home. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt integrated as my program provided acitivites where we could learn more, and my building was not in a touristy area. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Well, except I had some problems with insurance, but my program was great. |
| * Safety: |
I felt very safe in Portugal, more safe than in the United States. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
It was exactly what I needed, I specifically thought it was a perfect size, roughlly 200 students. |
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) |
2, portugal is cheap but studying abroad is very expensive. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 6,000 dollars |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | I recommend cooking during the week at your residence, but you will be traveling to other coutries on weekends and eating out a lot. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| 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? | Beginner |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | I had not completed any Portuguese language classes. |
| 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? | I recommend practicing in cafes, and conversing with locals. |
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? | 0 |
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 wish I knew how draining abroad can be and to be kinder to myself when I was exhausted. |
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 Avid AdventurerThe wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal. |
