Great city, not so great program Past Review
By A student (Dance & Urban Studies, Barnard College) - abroad from 01/29/2013 to 05/18/2013 with
CIEE: Prague - Central European Studies
Prague is a fantastic city, inexpensive and full of interesting places and people. I found that Prague was one of the places you had to work to feel comfortable. I really tried to find the places I liked best and it required some searching. It was very worthwhile.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
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 |
The administration was very unorganized for the number of students on the program. I had a problem with my homestay and they were extremely rude when I requested to switch. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The homestay I was placed in was at the end of a subway line about 40 minutes from anything. I was there alone and did not feel safe in the neighborhood which was basically a large housing complex that seemed leftover from the Soviet era. While my host family was great, I hated living so far from anything and so alone. I felt very isolated and requested a change. The program directors were awful, they seemed to hear nothing I said and kept spewing the preformulated "advantages of a homestay" to me. I had no issue with the idea of a homestay itself I was just far too far away on a subway line that not a single other person on my 150 person program lived on. And there are only 3 subway lines in Prague. I finally moved out to an apartment which was fine, right near a metro and I felt much more integrated. |
| * Food: |
not applicable |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
We lived with czech students our age in the building but my Czech buddy was never really around so I never hung out with people my age who lived in Prague. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I visited a doctor recommended to me by the program once for an eye rash. The doctor was great, spoke english and the clinic was nice. The issue was that my program failed to inform me that I have to notify the insurance before going to the doctor. So I paid the $40 visit in cash, got a receipt and brought it to the program. Then they told me I should have told them to tell the insurance and that getting it reimbursed was a huge hassle and they would not help me. |
| * Safety: |
Prague is very safe as long as you are alert and aware. Travel with people at night and avoid the areas they tell you. The only time I felt unsafe was coming home late at night to my homestay's area. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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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) |
Prague is extremely cheap, it was very easy to save money and spend little. I spent the most on weekend trips. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $70 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | no |
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 |
Bi-weekly Czech class was helpful but that was the only place we used it. We were encouraged to sign up with tandem buddies but that was pretty much it. |
| 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? | A short introductory course at the Czech consulate in NYC |
| 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 to shopkeepers and waitresses in czech, they'll respond in English but at least they appreciate you trying |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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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? | don't know |
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 Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
