11 Countries in 4 Months Past Review

By (International Business, University of Puget Sound) - abroad from 01/06/2015 to 05/04/2015 with

IES Abroad: Freiburg - European Union: Politics, Law & Economics

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained a new found greater desire to learn, grow, and explore. I gained best friends who have been through a lot of crucial life experiences with me. I learned to go with the flow and not take things so seriously.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The educational experience went beyond the classroom when we went on our 3 week-long field studies to learn about the European Union in other EU countries.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Sometimes things were disorganized, but it was impressive how they planned for and shuttled 84 students to over 10 countries.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Living in apartments with German university students really allowed us to be immersed in the culture of Germans our own age. We were also placed in an apartment with another IES student to make life easier and more comfortable.

* Food:

Freiburg, Germany, is a mini cultural capitol and provided endless food options. I preferred to eat the delicious German cuisine in the area, but I had my share of burgers and fries, pasta and pizza, Asian foods, Indian foods, and more.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I wish we had more opportunities to get to know local Germans. We lived with some and often frequented the same student bars, but it was tough to feel integrated when you're constantly surrounded by 84 Americans.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I got bronchitis on a field study in Paris and a doctor came right to my hotel and the administrator travelling with us helped me get my medicine and everything taken care of. Much better than if it had happened in the US... except I had to spend a day in bed in Paris.

* Safety:

Freiburg has high crime rates... but for bicycle theft! Other than that, it's an extremely safe city. Some cities you travel to, however, aren't as safe, but heed warnings, stay in groups, and be smart!

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

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)

This is difficult to answer because when we were on our field studies, there was no choice but to eat out for lunch and dinner for a week, which got expensive. We were also going to museums, etc that cost money--transportation costs in each new city are covered by IES. My roommate and I split groceries for about 40-50 euros total each week (50-60 USD).

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? ~40 euros (50USD) (Difficult to average. Some weeks eating out everyday, others not at all.)
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Make the most of travelling with IES because travelling on your own is expensive. Bring food and snacks for long trains/buses/flights so you don't have to buy expensive gas station/airport food that isn't even that good. Shop for yourself, go to the discount store, cook your own meals, and take leftovers for lunch the next day.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

It wasn't a prerequisite to the program but they encouraged you use it when ordering, asking for directions in town, etc.

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? Intermediate
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? German 201
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? USE the language when you can! Talk to someone at the tram stop, in the bakery, or even to your friends on the program in the host language.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
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?
  • The travel component (40% of the semester spent outside the host city)
  • Convenient location of host city (Freiburg, Germany)
  • The like-minded, driven group of people on my program
* What could be improved?
  • communication from IES Center adminstrators to participants
  • organization of the capstone Model EU
  • some (not all) of the field trip presentations
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew how short it would feel. 4 months is a substantial amount of time but can fly right by when you're traveling 40% of the time. I wish I had realized sooner that I should explore more of Freiburg than just where I lived and the Old Town.

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 Urbanite
A 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.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Leading Across Cultures

Course Department: IB
Instructor: Kerstin Spurk
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This was an extremely hands-on and experiential learning course. We participated in role plays, exercises, classroom discussions, and excursions outside the classroom for a holistic learning experience.
Credit Transfer Issues: