IES Abroad EU: Experiencing Europe First Hand Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

For the most part, the first half of the semester felt somewhat like a review session, and I questioned whether or not I had signed up for classes that would challenge previously taught assumptions and build on lessons at Mount Holyoke. I chose courses I was interested in, but had also studied before coming to the program. As a result, some material was a bit repetitive, but as the semester went on, the professors really drove productive discussions that resulted in some great class sessions. The most challenging thing was having 2 final essays due the day before leaving for our final excursion, which was coincidentally 3 days after spring break ended. I didn't really want to spend Spring Break working on those papers, but I felt it needed to be done. Rating the program at 4 stars, however, because of the attention and information from the professors. The hands-on approach through excursion lectures were also amazing, and I felt like those were very effective teaching tools.

On-site administration of your program

This group is amazing. They literally had to coordinate the travel plans of 80+ people for over 20 days of travel. Additionally, they made sure that students knew what local things were going on in town, and gave directions to medical assistance and Keidel Bad, the nearby baths and sauna.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I loved living in Vauban, especially in the student housing area. I felt that I was close to the tram stop, which made it very accessible, and enjoyed that Rewe and Aldi were so close. Additionally, local farmers markets and events happened roughly 3 times a week, so it had a wonderful community feeling. My flatmates were pleasant with me, and even challenged me to use my German skills, which I appreciated.

As mentioned in Housing, local grocery stores and farmers markets were not far, and I loved the chance to learn to cook some great recipes- I ended up learning how to make almost 30 different dishes while in Germany. Loved cooking with friends too, and it was easy to find veg options for friends who don't eat meat. For those who do, doner(kebab) was the way to go. And Eis Cafe will always have a special place in my heart for their delicious assortment of 1 euro ice creams.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Because the program was so large, I barely had the chance to meet everyone in it, much less locals. I felt a pressure to get to know everyone in the center, which detracted from my getting out and trying to get to know local Freiburgers. Maintaining friendships and getting to know the area with the course related travel was also a challenge. My flatmates tried to be inclusive, but it was still hard to meet people.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

During finals week, I got tonsillitis, and had to see a doctor. The center gave me all the tools to be in and out within 15 minutes, and ensured that everything would be covered by the insurance (minus the deductible, of course) that they offered through IES Abroad's partnership. It was quick, painless (other than the swollen tonsils), and the medical facilities were great.

Freiburg's #1 crime is bike theft. That being said, I felt fairly safe while walking around during the day and at night. The one time I felt unsafe was at a party when there was an incident involving sexual assault. In that moment, I was somewhat unsure about what to do, but was able to seek help and assistance almost immediately and afterwards.

This program was everything I could have asked for: history and politics in the locations where they happened, a chance to improve my German, and an abundant travel schedule. It was a dream come true.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

When living in Freiburg, it was easy to find inexpensive food to cook with and live off of. On the course-related excursions, students often lacked access to kitchens and grocery stores, and had to eat out. This ended up being quite expensive for 3 weeks of travel. Additionally, souvenirs and other personal affects were also an element of cost.

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

In the center, German was almost always spoken only in German classes. This excluded "German Fridays," in which the IES staff only spoke German. Most students had no prior knowledge of German, which made it difficult at times to practice with them (they were often reluctant)

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• Apartment

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• Local Students
• Americans

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• Americans
• International Students

• Traveling and Exploring
• Meeting exceptional lecturers and activists
• Bonding with young change makers

• Scheduling
• Transparency (regarding scheduling)
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The Academic or Linguist