I want to go back Past Review
By Michelle M (Global Health, University of California - San Diego) - abroad from 08/21/2011 to 12/17/2011 with
DIS Copenhagen: Semester
Living in Copenhagen is entirely different from living here. I miss walking or taking trains/buses everywhere and seeing the people everywhere. I learned so much from my core course (Human Health and Disease) and other courses, and was able to travel more regularly than I ever dreamed possible. I wish I could go back
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. |
The classes were packed with new things to learn, but were presented in a fascinating way helped keep our focus even while studying abroad. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Everything was run efficiently by friendly people. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I stayed in an apartment style dorm, which was nice and comfortable, but limited my exposure to the Danes. If I could go back, I'd apply for a host family or Danish roommate |
| * Food: |
Food in Denmark is delicious, but expensive! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Classes were with mostly Americans, so spent a lot of time with them. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
DIS recommended doctors and helped us pay for any medical expenses we'd have until our resident permit came |
| * Safety: |
I never felt anything but totally safe anywhere in Copenhagen |
| 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) |
We were given a card to spend on groceries, but food in Copenhagen, along with everything else, is expensive! |
| * Was housing included in your program cost? | Yes |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | Yes |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $150 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Stay with a host family, cook a lot, always have a reusable water bottle handy! Tap water is safe to drink, but water bottles often cost $5 each! |
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 spoke English, so there was no need to learn Danish, but we were encouraged to enroll in the classes. |
| 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? | Beginner |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Nothing |
| 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? | No idea, it's difficult to get Danes to speak Danish if you're not already fluent |
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? | Live with a host family |