Great summer in Amsterdam! Past Review
By Jeanette (Quinnipiac University) - abroad from 06/02/2016 to 07/16/2016 with
IES Abroad: Amsterdam Summer – Society, Culture & Gender
I loved living in a different city for a small time in my life. It was great to get out of my comfort zone and see some exciting, cool new things for more than just a vacation. I also learned a lot about Dutch culture and history through my classes that I otherwise may not have ever learned.
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. |
Great field trips to museums and other relevant sites made the classes so much more interesting and engaging than a typical college class. Sometimes it was hard to focus on studying when you'd rather be out exploring the country, but that's a personal choice! |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Everyone at IES was so helpful, no matter what we needed. If a student was sick, lost luggage, had credit card issues, or had any questions about anything, they would help. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Nice studio apartment, mini fridge and gas-light range (no oven). Our microwave did not work, but other rooms had functional ones. Housing was very close to the study abroad center, and you could access the city center by tram, bike, or walking (if you had a bit more time - walking to the city center took about 30-45 minutes). |
| * Food: |
IES didn't provide food except for a couple fun meals. We shopped for food and cooked on our own, or went out to the great restaurants & fast food places. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I definitely explored a lot and felt comfortable there, but I did not get to know many locals at all. Everyone speaks English, so there was no Dutch language instruction either. I had a great time with the other IES students, though. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I didn't require health care, but others did and said IES helped them figure out the issues. |
| * Safety: |
I felt the city was mostly very safe. I walked around the city on my own or with friends during the day. The only safety concern I'd say is that as a young woman, if I went out late at night to clubs or just around the city center in general, if I wasn't with a guy, I would be catcalled pretty frequently. Just be smart. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
This was a great program for me - in my fields of interest, lots of city exploration, and I loved Amsterdam. I enjoyed the 6-week duration, too. |
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) |
It really depends on how much you go out to eat, drink, shop, or travel. Groceries were fairly cheap. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $100-200, but I had extra money to spend |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Either commit to biking (one-time rental) or invest in a longer term public transportation card. I spent a lot on public transport because I didn't plan ahead and didn't have a bike. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
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? | 0 |
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? | I would have brought fewer clothes from home so I could shop more at the flea markets and cool shops of Amsterdam (I had too much luggage coming back). Bring rainboots and a raincoat (not just an umbrella). Anticipate that you may not be as studious while abroad as when at school (I preferred to explore and have fun than read, but that led to some late night cramming sessions). More than anything, just have fun!! |
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 Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
