Princess For 90 Days Past Review
By A student (BA Theatre Studies, Non-Performance, Emerson College) - abroad from 09/12/2012 to 12/11/2012 with
Emerson College: Kasteel Well: The Netherlands
I learned so much about traveling and about how large the world really is. I would do it all again in a heartbeat, because I learned so much about myself.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The courses were challenging and incorporated a lot of elements that helped us in our exploration of foreign countries on the weekends. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
OSA (Office of Student Affairs) is very helpful and always willing to assist! They were incredibly welcoming and very friendly. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived in the tower room of VB, which I believe was the best room in the whole Castle (And that's a lot, because I lived in a castle for a semester). |
| * Food: |
The Dining Hall was not exactly the best place to eat, but the food was obviously edible and there were other options if you did not like what they were serving that day. However, they DID listen to suggestions that we wrote down, so when a lot of people disliked something, they stopped making it. Though I do wish we had Thanksgiving dinner. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I learned a great deal about Dutch culture and I felt as though I became a resident of Well, Netherlands, while studying abroad there. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I had no experience with health care. |
| * Safety: |
The town of Well is very calm and safe. I felt very comfortable there the whole time. |
| 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) |
This is hard to answer because I had a meal plan on the weekdays and then tons of travel expenses on the weekends. After paying for hostels and the like, I can say that I spent a little under the amount students usually spend. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Each weekend, including hostels are airfare, I would say about $150 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Book flights and hostels in advance! And be sure to print out your boarding pass before arriving at the airport. |
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 |
Although we did not have a class in Dutch, we did receive a small packet with simple phrases that we used often (please, thank you, you're welcome, hello, etc.). |
| 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? | 0 |
| 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? | Just keep hearing it and speaking it. The best way to learn it is to be around it. |
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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* 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? | 0 |
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? | Share washing machines and dryers with your fellow students--laundry coins cost 2 euro, and the machines are big enough to be shared. |
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 LinguistYou 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! |
