Abroad in Jerusalem: The Semester of a Lifetime Past Review
By A student (Economics., Brandeis University) - abroad from 08/28/2013 to 01/05/2014 with
Hebrew University of Jerusalem - Rothberg International School: Undergraduate Study Abroad Program
I became very comfortable living in Jerusalem, and learned a great deal about Israel in every aspect. My Hebrew radically improved, and I made so many lifelong friends from all over the world. Not only was this experience worthwhile, but it changed me forever. I feel that I now have a much wider perspective on the world, and have learned to be more independent. I will never forget this experience, and I hope to return to Israel sometime very soon.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The administrators at Rothberg ar top-notch. They all are deeply invested in the success and well being of the students in their program. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The Hebrew University dorms are really nice and are in a great location in Jerusalem. |
| * Food: |
Each dorm has a kitchen, and the food places in the neighborhood are great. Make sure to go to French Hill Falafel (best falafel you will ever have) right around the corner from the dorms. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Israelis are living in the dorms as well, but you definitely have to make an effort to immerse yourself within the culture. However, the opportunity is definitely there. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Jerusalem is very safe, and the Rothberg administration is very good about giving you all of the safety instructions you will need at the beginning of the semester. |
| 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) |
It definitely take a little time to get adjusted to living on a student budget in a foreign country, but after a couple of weeks, I definitely got the hang of it. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $80-$90 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Take advantage of good deals. There are often different coupons and restaurant/bar deals that are offered throughout the semester. |
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 |
Before the semester starts, each student is required to take a 5-week Ulpan (intensive Hebrew language class), and then up to 10 hours of Hebrew per week during the semester. There are also Hebrew immersion internship opportunities to take advantage of through Rothberg. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Hebrew 34 A |
| 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? | My friends and I would often speak to each other in Hebrew (even though we were all from english-speaking countries). This helped us to practice at our own pace, and to speak as much as possible. Just make sure to use the language as much as you can, as it really makes all the difference. |
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? | Life is all about experiences. Every time an opportunity to have a special or unforgettable experience presents itself, you should do whatever you can to take advantage of that opportunity. |
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 Avid AdventurerThe wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal. |
