Baths, food, netflix, and parks. Past Review
By A student (University of Hartford) - abroad from 01/11/2017 to 05/12/2017 with
CIEE: Prague - Global architecture & Design
I learned that I am not one for speculative design
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Not a heavy course load, but plenty of work for the courses given. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Always present for office hours and willing to answer questions, interested in feedback and creating a strong community. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Lived in a famous villa on the River by Vyton, 30 minutes from school by tram, kind of spidery but cozy and spacious. |
| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Integration occurred in the studio, otherwise it was just me and 3 other students (2 from America, 1 from Singapore) |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
My doctor was a jerk but otherwise efficient and helpful. |
| * Safety: |
3 locked doors and 2 flights of stairs to get to our apartment. Studio locked at 11 every night, could only enter with card given by school. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I met wonderful people |
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) |
Recommended to bring 3,000 which was not enough. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 6,500 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Either plan ahead and save extra or be very meticulous. |
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 |
Everyone in our school spoke English, only really used Czech to order food at my local and personal favorite lunch/breakfast spots. Took Czech for only 2 weeks, where as all the rest of the CIEE took it for their entire time abroad. |
| 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? | None |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | basics |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 0 |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Continue with the course after the alloted time if the teacher has the time to (mine didn't) or use memrise (an app for learning languages) |
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? | I would be lonely because it was a tiny program and I respect the culture my mother comes from more than other Americans do. |
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 BlazerCraving 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.' |
