Loved it. Past Review

By A student (ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE/LETTERS., University of Indianapolis) - abroad from 02/03/2004 to 12/23/2004 with

Hellenic International Studies in the Arts - HISA: Paros

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

The most important part was getting to see a totally different, open, fun culture like the island life on Paros. I got to go deep into my writing also, because I could write undisturbed from different locations around the island at any time, and the feedback was so immediate. It was definitely worthwhile.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program?	0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.	The program was FUN! We traveled all around the Greek islands (tickets paid for by tuition!), and got to immerse myself in my art with little distraction. Paros was a really cool place to live, active nightlife-especially in the summer- and beaches, cheap wine, hiking, soccer! The trip to Turkey was a highlight for me! Def. gotta revisit!
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program	Greek time can be frustrating, but the school abides by a western standard. Yuko, an administrator, was very helpful and kind!
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	I love my privacy and the ability to cook at home! I love being able to walk to class and not worrying about public transport or traffic. The beach is right next to the student apartments. Typical internet connectivity issues.
* Food:	I'm a vegetarian, so it was a little harder for me to eat out in groups
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	I wish I had taken the Greek class! But most of the locals spoke English and were super-friendly. I haven't stayed in touch with many people, but I had some definitely memorable conversations.
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?	I didn't have any problem, but saw there was a free clinic and lots of pharmacies.
* Safety:	Like zero crime on Paros. I was nervous about going to Turkey but it turned out much more safe than I expected. Travel was arranged with few glitches (later bus pick up), for sanitation reasons I'd really advise bringing your own tissue to Turkey (often restrooms lack this).
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program?	Yes

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)	I spent about 60 Euro/week on groceries. A little goes a long way, especially if you like Gyros and don't drink a lot!

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component?	Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language? 0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language	The students who took Greek language classes were encouraged and often spoke, but I opted out of that class so wasn't really pushed to learn.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Apartment
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Americans International Students
* Who did you take classes with? Select all that apply	Americans International Students
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?	Trips Community Environment
* What could be improved?	more courses
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	Electrical sockets are different Cappadocia is cold at night!

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 Adventurer The 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.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	Creative Writing
Course Department:
Instructor:	Barry Tagrin
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	The creative writing class was my favorite at HISA. It radically helped my work and confidence to develop by being able to read aloud and receive a variety of different students perspectives. Barry is such a rare human being, he helped me to go through many poems line by line and identify 'black holes' and areas that needed development or didn't express my intended meaning clearly. The atmosphere of the course was also very helpful, supportive and open-minded. I loved this course, and really miss my friends from the program!
Credit Transfer Issues: