Summer of a Lifetime! December 26, 2022
By Maddie H (Entrepreneurship, San Jose State University) - abroad from 06/30/2017 to 08/01/2017 with
Forum-Nexus: Ultimate Summer in Europe - 7 Cities in 1 Month
The ultimate summer with Forum-Nexus was an experience of a lifetime! I met incredible people from all over the world that turned into long lasting friends and teachers that turned into mentors. As a student athlete in college it was never possible for me to study abroad for a semester due to my training schedule but FN was the perfect program to enable me to experience the abroad study experience in one month. I loved the unique experience of moving from place to place while studying because I like to "do it all." Dr H always gave us the local tips and insight to travel with confidence, not to mention the best sites to see so we would hit the ground running and maximize our time. From helping me earn credits for my graduate degree, to inspiring my career with the professional visits, I'll never forget my summer with FN!
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Perfect mix of classes, professional visits and fun. Teachers are knowledgeable and many courses offered to transfer towards degrees. Graduate courses offered. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Very organized leaders. I always felt safe and in the know about best things to do and where to go / when. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Good hotels - centrally located! |
| * Food: |
Breakfast included! Loved the food in Rhodes. Dr H always taught us what to try in each city to get the local flavor. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Cultural visits and professional visits helped emerge into local culture. Dr H also taught us a bit of each local language plus skills of how to get around like a local. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
If I needed something, I could reach out and feel safe. |
| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
The ultimate summer with Forum-Nexus was an experience of a lifetime! I met incredible people from all over the world that turned into long lasting friends and teachers that turned into mentors. As a student athlete in college it was never possible for me to study abroad for a semester due to my training schedule but FN was the perfect program to enable me to experience the abroad study experience in one month. I loved the unique experience of moving from place to place while studying because I like to "do it all." Dr H always gave us the local tips and insight to travel with confidence, not to mention the best sites to see so we would hit the ground running and maximize our time. From helping me earn credits for my graduate degree, to inspiring my career with the professional visits, I'll never forget my summer with FN! |
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) |
You really want to save for this trip. It's worth it. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Unsure |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Spend your money on cultural things to do rather than just drinking at a bar. You can party anywhere, you'll want to remember every piece of this experience crystal clear! |
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 |
Hugo really helped us learn key phrases and methods to understand local terminology |
| 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? | basic phrases |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Practice with friends, give it a shot |
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? | Sleep and save as much money as you can before getting there. You will want to do it all! |
