A life-changing semester abroad in Freiburg Past Review
By Lydia Rautman (Emory University) - abroad from 09/01/2016 to 12/17/2016 with
IES Abroad: Freiburg - Environmental Studies & Sustainability
I gained so much independence and confidence in myself traveling alone. I was able to practice my language plenty and gained many new friends and, most importantly, a new perspective of the world. It was a very challenging experience but absolutely worth every second of it.
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. |
I came away from the program with tangible new skills like plant identification and GIS and had such a fun time learning them. We had fantastic field trips for our classes, including visiting local windmills and going on a three-day hiking excursion in the Swiss Alps. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The IES Abroad Freiburg staff were always so friendly and helpful. They learned all of our names soon after arrival and were eager to give advice about things to do in the city and region. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
All of the students in the program were placed with at least a couple of German flatmates and we all became close with our own as well as other people's flatmates. |
| * Food: |
Freiburg has great food and is one of the vegan- and vegetarian-friendliest places I've ever seen. You have to try Currywurst and if you're vegan, don't worry -- there's Tofuwurst! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I gained many German friends throughout the duration of the program and continue to talk to some of them. IES helped me enroll in a course in German in a Masters Program at the University and I felt just like a German student! |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I did not have any health issues but I know that other people who did were able to take care of them quickly with the program's help. |
| * Safety: |
We unfortunately were having a problem with a couple of murders in the region but the fact that this was such big news was testament to how safe Freiburg normally is. Even with this issue going on, I always felt safe on the Straßenbahn and walking around during the day. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I loved this city and think I gained more from this program in cultural immersion and knowledge in environmental studies than I would have improved my German in the language program (only because I am C1/2 and the German language program is perfect for learners at any lower level). |
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) |
I stopped at the grocery every couple of days for new fresh produce and bread and was able to live on much less than I spend in the US. Everything was overall cheaper, especially the student Mensa where you could get a giant portion of a regional specialty for less than two Euro every day for lunch! |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 75 Euro |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Eat at the student Mensa as often as you can -- I knew many local students who would make that their main meal of the day because it was such a large portion for so cheap, and would then eat something smaller for dinner. |
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 |
I was fluent in German but in an English-language program. The administration knew I spoke German and would insist that I always speak in German with them and as much outside of the program as possible. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| 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? | German 470/C1 |
| 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? | Let your flatmates know if you want to work on your German and they will minimize their English with you. If your language skills are up to it, take a class in the language at the local University. I got so much language experience and made many new local friends. |
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? | Your semester abroad will be full of once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. Say yes! |
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! |
