An authentic, exciting and beautiful semester Past Review
By A student (The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 08/28/2018 to 12/15/2018 with
IES Abroad: Freiburg - Environmental Studies & Sustainability
I learned so much about living a sustainable lifestyle. I also learned some German and made a lot of international friends who gave me new perspectives. This was the most informative few months of my life, including time outside of the classroom.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Classes were very interesting and hands-on. I learned so much inside and outside of the classroom. Field trips are plenty and very applicable. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
IES Staff is so experienced, helpful, kind, and fun! |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Integrating yourself into the local student life is easy and everyone is so friendly! |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Going to the local apothecary was an awesome and easy way to get effective and natural medicines. I only had a problem when I had to go to a doctor to get a flu shot and the pharmacies were out of the vaccine. |
| * Safety: |
I felt incredibly safe in Freiburg and public transportation is very reliable. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
The people in Freiburg are so interesting and kind. The landscapes are incredible. And the location is in the middle of Europe - perfect for traveling! |
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) |
Cooking with friends is a cheap, fun and easy way to live on a budget. Produce in Germany is inexpensive and fresh - studying abroad is a great time to sharpen your cooking skills! Lots of thrift stores help you furnish your room and cloth yourself for cheap. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Ride the flixbus rather than flying, eat at home, get a bike, don't purchase things you do not need - you will still remember your experiences without a souvenir from each trip. |
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? | None |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Beginner |
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? | Life in Freiburg is casual - you don't need to bring many clothes or accessories. Living simply is the key to being present and enjoying your time. Taking every opportunity to immerse yourself in the local culture and student body will really pay off! |
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. |
