Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Fantastic experience for a first-time international student Past Review

By (History, Eastern Illinois University) - abroad from 05/15/2015 to 06/05/2015 with

Eastern Illinois University (EIU): Berlin / Munich - History and Memory in the New Germany

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I got to see and learned all about the German perspective on the Holocaust and World War II, and how they've changed in the seventy years since the war's end.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Had a lot of fun, learned a lot of new stuff, got to do things that, as a history major, I never dreamed I'd get a chance to do.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Professors were punctual, helpful, both during excursions for classroom learning, and with recommendations for students during free time.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Stayed at two youth hostels in Berlin and Munich, both were very nice, spacious, provided excellent breakfasts and free wifi. Only complaint was the noise, especially in Munich. Since there was a bar built into the hotel, the noise drifted up to my window fairly often at night.

* Food:

The variety of locations we visited and restaurants we tried really helped with the trip. There were some American restaurants too, allowing for a burger or whatever if you felt homesick.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Being from a small town in central Illinois, I felt more like a shock and change going from small town to big city life. The German culture really wasn't that different, at least not that I can remember.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Really didn't get to see this side of the trip, I was pretty healthy for most of the journey. I only had to go to pharmacies twice and they were close to my hostels and provided friendly service.

* Safety:

Both of my rooms were up several floors and the hostels required passage through at least three locks each to get to your room, making it feel really safe inside the hotels. Outside, the usual rules for roaming large cities still applied.

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)

I was able to make my money stretch pretty far.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Less than 200 dollars.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Hostel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • N/A
* 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? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The experience
  • The things I learned
  • The sense of adventure
* What could be improved?
  • Nothing
  • I
  • Can think of.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Don't have your debit card get compromised the day you leave the U.S. and be stranded in a foreign country having to rely on the emergency fund in the program.

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 Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!