The most uplifting, eye-opening, thrilling experience you can imagine! Past Review

By Colleen M (Politics and Government, University of Hartford) - abroad from 01/27/2014 to 05/17/2014 with

CIEE: Prague - Central European Studies

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

I gained a lot of knowledge about other cultures and other perspectives, and thus I learned a lot about my own culture and perspective of life. I learned not to stress the small things and I learned to appreciate the small things. I gained self-confidence and reassurance in my chosen career path. Studying abroad made me a better person.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program?	0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.	The courses were extremely interesting and the perfect amount of rigor for students who have other priorities while studying abroad.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program	I had a fabulous experience with the on-site staff.
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	I lived with a homestay family and it made my experience. I would recommend this to anyone who truly wants to experience Czech culture and who likes to have a strong sense of home in a distant place. It is also helpful to have an immediate Czech resource for help in your Czech language course!
* Food:	I loved the food, but a big part of that was that I stayed with a host family and my host mom was a great cook. The diet in Czech Republic involves a lot of dumplings, potatoes, meat and cream sauces. If you are a vegetarian or need a lot of greens in every meal you would have to try a bit harder in the Czech Republic.
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	Midway through the program, I felt like a local in Prague. A large part of this was that I stayed with a host family and so my language skills were better than most other students. I liked everything about the local culture so it was easy for me to fit in.
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?	I can't say from personal experience because I did not have any health issues while in Prague. However, the program does provide you with health insurance included in the tuition.
* Safety:	People told me prior to going to Prague that it was one of the safest cities in Europe and I thought they were only saying it to please my parents but it really is true! I had several friends who got their belongings pickpocketed in other cities they traveled to, but I never heard of anyone getting anything stolen in Prague. I never heard of anyone (especially girls) being harassed on the streets or anything. My home was a ten-minute walk from the metro station, but I never felt unsafe making that walk alone, even in the middle of the night.
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program?	Yes

Finances

* 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 one of the cheapest cities in Europe when you're talking about food. It seems the further east you go, the cheaper it is. In Prague, lunch was never more than $5 and dinner rarely more than $8-10. I lived with a homestay so I seldom paid for meals, but when I did it was a good price for a heavy meal. Snacks were extremely cheap, too.
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	When I stayed in Prague, I spent a maximum of $20/week. Traveling to other cities obviously costed more because of transportation and living expenses.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	Definitely give yourself a maximum limit before you even leave home. Budget your money, and keep track of how much you have left. Most importantly, pick where you travel very carefully. As cheap as flights may seem, it will add up quickly if you try to fly to a different city every weekend. Try taking the bus or train to closer cities.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component?	Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language? 0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language	The Czech language professors are good about speaking to students in Czech as much as possible, but the program staff was not as good with that. They would say hello and goodbye in Czech but beyond that only English.
How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program?	None
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?	Spanish III
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?	Living with a homestay family was a great way to practice the language, especially because they young kids spoke on a more basic level, easier for me to understand. If not living with a host family, volunteer to teach English to people in the community, the younger the better.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Host Family Hotel Hostel
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Americans Host Family
* Who did you take classes with? Select all that apply	Americans
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?	Host family Learning a language Course material
* What could be improved?	Organization of trips
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	That some things are better done alone. Don't be afraid to venture out alone, especially in Prague. You'll be okay and you'll be able to do things you want to do with no one to interfere. And you'll learn a lot about yourself in the process.

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 Nearly Native or Trail Blazer Craving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.'

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	Collective Identity in a Totalitarian Regime
Course Department:	Politics
Instructor:	Vanda Thorne
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	This course was just challenging enough. It was extremely interesting material and the instructor made use of a wide range of readings to engage the students. Field trips were also educational and interesting. Grading depends on a mix of papers, presentations and exams.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Art and Architecture
Course Department:	Art
Instructor:	Marie Homerova
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	This course was extremely unique in that half the classes were taught in different places throughout Prague. The professor, who is absolutely hilarious and brilliant, took us to a different area each week. The lectures are a bit tiring for students not majoring in art, but the class itself is interesting and fun for anyone.
Credit Transfer Issues: