Past Review
By Roisin M (Marketing., Emerson College) for
Emerson College: Kasteel Well: The Netherlands
It was definitely worthwhile. I learned so much about different cultures and I feel like I understand people so much more. I am more open to new experiences and I'm more independent. I was truly changed by this program for the better, and have formed great relationships with people I may have never crossed paths with back in Boston.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
| The term and year this program took place: | Spring 2010 |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The teachers really understood our circumstances and helped us get used to our new surroundings. The classes taught us about things that we were able to experience firsthand throughout Europe. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The staff and faculty really understood us and were able to anticipate many of our questions. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The castle was beautiful, as was the town of Well. I am used to living in the city with much more around me, but Well was a nice escape sometimes. We could go to buzzing cities on the weekend, and then come back to Well and walk down the street to see baby goats. |
| * Food: |
I'm a picky eater, so I didn't always love the food at the castle, but I could always just have a sandwich if I didn't like the other food options. The major problem I had was the big time gap between lunch and dinner. I would always get hungry between the time lunch ended and dinner started. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The Netherlands is a beautiful country, and I'm glad I got to explore it. I got to go to Maastricht, Amsterdam, Venlo, Eindhoven, Den Haag, Nijmegen, and Rotterdam. Thanks to the field trips to Rotterdam, Maastricht, and Amsterdam, I was able to learn while exploring the cities. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I know of some people who weren't satisfied with the local clinic's response to their illnesses. They claim that the doctors didn't fully listen to them or didn't understand their problems. I never felt like I was in danger at any point during the semester abroad. |
| 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
| Language acquisition improvement? |
Most people spoke English in all of the countries I visited, so I didn't pick up much of another language. |
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 definitely an opportunity not to be missed. Everyone loves the experience and you come back as a family. It is best for someone who understands that this isn't a semester-long vacation, and that sometimes you'll have to work on a paper while on a train to another country. Overall, it is an amazing program and I would recommend it to every Emerson student. |
