The Czech Republic: My Second home Past Review
By Kelli S (Film Studies, University of Colorado - Boulder) for
CIEE: Prague - Film Studies
My worldview has been changed permanently. I no longer look at film, people and the world from a strictly American perspective. I've learned that one can adapt to (and adopt!) another culture without feeling like they've lost something of their native culture. Just the opposite! I feel like I could never have shaped this new perspective by staying in my homeland, and I will never forget this experience for as long as I live!
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. |
The Czech ways of teaching was startling at first in their contrast to the American school system. My work has often been met with a blunt, almost brutal honesty without any sugar coating. It made me nervous at first, but now I am so glad to receive this kind of constructive criticism as it pushes me to perform better in all that I set out to do. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The CIEE staff here have been extremely helpful in seeing to our needs as students as well as guests in our host country. They provided resources to further our knowledge of the country, held orientation meetings, and continued to arrange activities and encourage our total immersion in the culture. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
CIEE arranged my housing for me. It's a fantastic apartment that came equipped with everything we needed in our day to day activities, including cooking and sheets for our beds. |
| * Food: |
We were responsible for buying our own food. CIEE provided meals for us during the welcome dinners and orientation luncheons, but they were of good quality and emphasized the traditional cuisine of the country. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Attending the opera, going to the theatre and watching Czech films with my fellow students. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Safety was a major issue that was addressed almost immediately with the first orientation meeting. Since then we have been insured in case of emergencies and the staff made it clear that they were available 24/7 should we need them at all. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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) |
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Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
CIEE appointed a Czech speaker to teach us the language; enough for us to get around the city on our own. Classes were fun and gave us what we needed to interact with the local population and survive the city on our own. Intensive study is the best, I think, as you are given a great amount with which you can communicate in a short amount of time. |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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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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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | This is a great program, and one that I would highly recommend to anyone considering it. The professors here are important people in their fields and know what they're talking about. They are a great for helping you make your film the best that it can be, and in the end you come away with an amazing project that you created in one of the most beautiful cities in the world! |
