Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The classes were interesting and often tied into the travel experiences. It was different to be taught by Europeans and some professors, like Chester Lee are fantastic and engaging. However some are also tedious due to long lectures. The work load is usually manageable but it can be difficult to balance everything. I would recommend getting midterm and final assignments over sooner rather than later. Overall I enjoyed my classes for the most part and the professors are generally understanding people who will try to help you learn the material.

On-site administration of your program

OSA are very helpful and friendly, I always enjoyed interactions with them. Dolchia is a wondrous woman and a great program leader. I really liked the administration. The only complaints I would give are due to their strictness of some policies, such as blankets and the cost of laundry. Something such as bringing one of your blankets outside can result in a heavy fee that cannot be argued with. This was frustrating though I can see their reasons for not wanting the blankets to travel. In general, they will fee you harshly if you give them reason to. Overall they are great people who will help you with anything you could think to ask them.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Again, due to the secluded nature of the castle, you will be surround by English speakers rather than Dutch, so there is little to none language acquisition. This program does not focus on that aspect of studying abroad. The location of the castle is fantastic if you choose to explore. It can get a bit suffocating at times due to the close quarters and the fact that you are located in a very small town. However, I rented a bike and was able to ride into Germany easily as well as explore the nearby lakes, sanddunes, forests, river, and farmland. I would HIGHLY recommend getting a bike if only to have the freedom to explore and get to town a bit faster. The town of Well is very small and simple but provides everything you need. You can also take the bus or a train to nearby places easily. A day trip to Venlo, Maastrict or The Haague is often a good change of scenery. The castle is in a beautiful area that allows for beautiful views and good places to sit outside, especially when its nice out. You are seconds away from class, the dining hall and other facilities within the castle grounds (campus) and minutes from town. The local bar, the Linden, which offers America Night once a week is also walking distance in old town. (The grocery store, bus stop, ext are located in new town, the castle sits in between old town and new town.) You do have to bring your own sheets and towels but they supply you with blankets, eating utensils, a pillow and other basics. Every bedroom also has a sink in it which is a very nice and convenient thing to have. Communal showers and toilets are on every floor though they are all slightly different (mainly in the Main Castle). Castle living is comfortable and communal, Sophie's lounge (named after the castle's ghost) and the lounge in the VB provide good hang out locations and a group of us would use the exercise tower (nicknamed ladybug lounge due to the dead and living ladybugs that can be found there) to watch movies or TV shows on a laptop when the TV was in use. It is also a good place to be a bit louder during quiet hours. The moat and its black swans provide entertainment and the castle gardens are good for short strolls.

The food is often strange but usually edible. I am a vegetarian and would therefore often have the non meat option. This usually entailed tofu or some kind of soy product with vegetables. There were certainly weird things, such as their "guacamole" (some light green liquid that tasted like an herb of some sort) but usually there is something to eat. Grilled cheese or toasted peanut butter and nutella sandwiches where a big hit.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I was at the Castle during Carnaval which was quite an experience. The ability to travel on weekends lead to many short trips to a lot of different countries. The fact that you are in Europe and have the freedom to explore and have fun was one of the best parts of this program.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I felt very safe unless I was traveling. There were a few instances in bigger cities that were a bit sketchy but the castle itself feels very safe, due in a large part to the tiny town its located in. It is easy to go to the doctor most of the time but there were times when students had trouble getting antibiotics they needed. I had a sinus infection and was able to make an appointment through OSA and get the necessary drugs to recover easily.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

This program is not focused on gaining language skills in Dutch. You will learn basic words and phrases but beyond that it is easy to get around just speaking English. Other countries had more of a language barrier, but since you visit them for such a short amount of time you are usually fine getting by. The castle is also removed from town enough that you are usually in an English speaking community and surrounded by other students, I would recommend exploring the town and surrounding areas due to this. Renting a bicycle was one of the best things I did.

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