Einmal Freiburger, Immer Freiburger. Past Review
By Heather G (International Studies, Communication, Hope College) for
IES Abroad: Freiburg - Environmental Studies & Sustainability
Yes, this experience was completely worthwhile. I not only gained confidence in my language skills but it also gave me an opportunity to have a new perspective on the political, social and educational world. I loved the amount of students from all over the world, and Germany especially, that I was able to know and discuss current issues with. I want to come back and potentially do my masters work here.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Everyone was extremely helpful, friendly and supportive of us. Not only administrators but also wonderful people to get to know. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I loved my dorm so much. My apt mates made my experience in Germany wonderful. I had to buy some things for my room, but some of the items were left behind for me by another Hope student who had studied in Freiburg the previous semester. |
| * Food: |
Doener Kebabs! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
There are so many opportunities to have fun in Freiburg. There are hikes and bike rides and summer festivals and dance parties and beer gardens and awesome castle ruins, etc in the area. Also, Freiburg is located extremely close to France and Switzerland which makes for an ideal location for day trips to different areas. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
There was an E.Coli breakout in Germany while I was here and I was never worried because they handled the situation well and kept us very informed. |
| 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? | The conversion to Euro is such a bummer here. Taking money out of an ATM and using it is way cheaper than trying to pay with an American debit card, and most stores won't accept American credit cards (except hotels, trains, etc). Bring more money than you think you'll need because you'll want to go out or make a meal for your apartment or something. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | I forgot about public transportation costs. It was about 110 euro for the semester to buy tickets for the strassenbahn. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 300-level Literature |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
It was wonderful living in a student apartment while here in Freiburg. It was much less intimidating than in a university course and much less tempting to speak English (like it was occasionally with fellow IES-ers). There were plenty of people who spoke English in case you were having difficulty understanding or explaining yourself, but in general, everyone was very supportive of our attempt to learn and practice German. Therefore, most people in the city were very friendly and patient with our German and would speak more slowly and articulate more to assist us. |
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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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Studying in Freiburg is simply excellent. |
