Getting out of my comfort zone Past Review
By emily.ostrove (Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Whitman College) - abroad from 09/04/2013 to 12/19/2013 with
IES Abroad: Freiburg - Environmental Studies & Sustainability
I seized as many opportunities as I possibly could while I was in Freiburg and did things I never thought I would be brave enough to do. I was successful at living abroad on my own and integrating myself into German culture and establishing a community of friends and resources around me. I feel very empowered to know I can go to a foreign country and do that,
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
IES Abroad Freiburg does make you work, but it was a lighter work-load than my home university and IES Abroad Freiburg never had classes on Fridays because they understood we wanted to travel and enjoy our time abroad. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Extremely helpful, caring and friendly. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Living with other German students was incredibly rewarding, |
| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The program dates don't align well with the local university, so the students weren't even there the first month and a half of my study abroad. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| 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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 120 Euros, including traveling |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Keep a spreadsheet tracking all of your expenses. It will make you much more aware of how you are spending money abroad. |
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 |
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| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| 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? | 206 |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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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? | Getting settled takes up to two months and it wasn't towards the end of my study abroad that I really started engaging and reaping the full benefits of study abroad. |
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 Academic or LinguistYou went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you! |
