Vienna: Challenging yet a worthy learning experience Past Review
By Morgan V (Journalism, University of Kentucky) for
GEO: Vienna - Study Abroad Programs in Vienna
I loved traveling and seeing the sights. I learned to get along with people I normally wouldn't have and adapt quickly to new social and cultural environments.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Less emphasis was placed on the actual grades your received, although the workload was just as difficult as at home. Teaching methods were more personal and one-on-one, which may have been due to smaller classroom sizes. Work was consistent yet allowed time to travel. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Program size was small and classes consisted of Americans only. There were no local students in our building. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I loved my neighborhood and host family. They were welcoming and happy to show us around the city. |
| * Food: |
Food was more expensive but there was a wide variety to choose from with lots of easily accessible markets. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Lots of trips to museums. I also traveled to 5 other countries in Europe. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
|
| * Safety: |
No problems as Vienna was a very safe city. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
|
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) |
|
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
|
| Language acquisition improvement? |
I lived with a host family where I was able to converse in German. I also used it in everyday interactions such as on the subway and ordering food. |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Be prepared to be independent and fully immersed in a different culture. Go out and hang with locals as much as you can. |
