When can I go back? Past Review
By Charlotte W (Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology, North Carolina State University / NC State) - abroad from 08/16/2015 to 12/19/2015 with
IES Abroad: Amsterdam - Social Sciences & Humanities
This question is difficult to answer, as I feel like I've learned so much about Amsterdam and myself at the same time. Studying abroad allowed me to gain an understanding of what the world is like beyond the borders of America, which is something I think a lot of people start to forget, or just don't pay attention to. It was definitely worthwhile, and while there were fleeting moments of homesickness, the four months of my semester flew by, and I feel like looking back at my semester, everything is a blur because every day involved something new. I made friends while abroad who I will continue to keep in touch with for years to come, learned about a culture so unique to this one city, Amsterdam, and gained independence and courage through my ability to thrive in a foreign place for a semester.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I took three classes while abroad, and while they were interesting and I enjoyed them, the rigor was not comparable to my classes at my home university. I felt like my studies did not consume the majority of my time in Amsterdam, which was okay with me as it allowed for more time to explore the city. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The administration was lovely, and offered resources for support, were encouraging and supportive, and sent out frequent newsletters to let us know of events and happenings around Amsterdam. They also set up both individual and group meetings throughout the semester to check in, which were nice opportunities to talk about homesickness, culture shock, adjustments, roommates, or anything else on our minds. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
It was dorm arrangements, so the housing was about as nice as a dorm can be, but was located in a superb location in the city, really close to the University. I got along fine with my roommate, and it was nice to live in close quarters with other American and international exchange students. |
| * Food: |
The food was delicious! Both grocery shopping, which was less than a five minute walk from my dorm, and eating out were great options. The windmill brewery located close to my dorm was a great hangout spot, and with so many cafes around the city, I never ran out of study spots or places to try new foods. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt like I met a lot of Dutch students in the classes that I took, and met international students in the International Student Network week, which took place upon arrival. I was completely immersed in Dutch culture and was really pleased with that aspect of my time abroad. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
|
| * Safety: |
I felt very safe in Amsterdam. While there were terrorist related incidents in France during my semester, my program administration made sure to account for all students and it was evident that our safety was of extreme importance to them. Even though dangerous things were going on just a few hours from Amsterdam during the attacks on Paris, I felt reassured knowing that Amsterdam was a safe place to be. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I felt that IES provided me with an opportunity to grow as a student in the four months that I spent in Amsterdam. They offered endless support, checked in frequently, but not an overbearing amount, and made sure I took advantage of my limited time in the city of Amsterdam. The housing was nice, as I lived in close quarters with other Americans and International students. I enjoyed my classes, and had plenty of time for outside travel. Overall, IES was a great way to spend my fall semester and I would absolutely do it again. |
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) |
A student budget was perfectly doable for a semester abroad. I found that most of my money was spent on food, travel to other countries (which was always relatively cheap), and nights out in Amsterdam. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | About 100 euros |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | I downloaded an app which allowed me to keep track of my expenses. It helped me see how much I had left, but really I would just say spend money on travel and experiences, and worry about the rest later (souvenirs, additional shopping, etc.). |
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 |
While I picked up a few Dutch words and phrases, I found that it was really easy to get by just speaking English, as all the Dutch students and locals I interacted with spoke perfect English. |
| 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? | None |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | None |
| 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? | Make an effort to get to know the locals in your country. They will be flattered and impressed that you have an interest in a language other than English! |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
| 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? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Going abroad is a time to really learn something new, whether that be about yourself, a place, new people, or even a class in school. I think if you allow yourself to be open to new experiences, you will feel an overwhelming sense of accomplishment. I knew I would not be the same person I was when I left, upon coming back to the US, and I think that is the best thing that has happened to me in my life so far. You will get out of your experience what you put into it, so you must take advantage of all the opportunities and experiences that are available to you while abroad. Say yes! Meet new people! Make new friends! And know that the homesickness will come, and that is okay, but let it happen, and wake up the next day ready to adventure again! |
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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
