Best 5 Months of My Life! Past Review
By Chrystal Rodriguez (University of Hartford) - abroad from 08/13/2019 to 12/14/2019 with
CIEE - Multi-city Open Campus Option
I gained life long friends. Tried new foods. I am more comfortable now stepping out my comfort zone and doing things alone. It was beyond worthwhile.
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. |
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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? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
Being a CIEE Global Scholar was amazing. The classes and Professors were also amazing, the work wasn’t too hard or too easy. The program itself is very organized and loves keeping the students busy and engaged. The second week of each block they took us on study tours to other cities and took us to some of the coolest places Ive ever been. They also set up activities weekly for students to participate in which was also fun. |
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? | $40 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Don’t eat out at much. When doing groceries avoid meats, buy the meat the day you feel like cooking it. Avoid American fast food, its usually more expensive except for Mcdonalds. |
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? | Beginner |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | College Spanish |
| 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? | Don’t be afraid to embarrass yourself. Most of the time you’re overthinking and they enjoy the fact that you tried. |
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? | n/a |
