Bulgaria is one of the cheapest countries in Europe, everyone speaks English Past Review

By (Global Studies, Nebraska Wesleyan University) for

ISEP Exchange: Blagoevgrad - Exchange Program at American University in Bulgaria

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was worthwhile. It's hard to summarize up everything you learned, but I definitely found it valuable! I would highly encourage anyone who is considering study abroad to take this opportunity! It will truly be a great experience!

Personal Information

The term and year this program took place: Fall 2009

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

My classes were all manageable, a couple of them were very challenging because they were upper level. The rest were pretty easy. I learned as much outside classroom by meeting new people, traveling as I did in school.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

I think the program was good. I would recommend it.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived in a room with two Bulgarian girls. <br /><br /> I was very satisfied. It was better than the dorm I stayed in my freshman year in my home university.

* Food:

Restaruants were great, cheap and delicious. School cafeteria sucked. It always had the same stuff and they sold for high prices too.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

It was very good. There was always something going on and it was very easy to meet, make new friends. I enjoyed the social part very much.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

Student health was excellent. There's a health center at school and is free to students. I felt safe in Bulgaria, even when I was out traveling on my own, walking late at night by myself.

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Roughly three or four hundred, depending on how much you travel.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? There weren't really any unanticipated expenses. Bulgaria is one of the cheapest countries in Europe, it should be very afforable.

Language

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Fluent
Language acquisition improvement?

I used English all the time, I didn't go to Bulgaria to learn Bulgarian

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • International Students

A Look Back

* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Go ahead and do it.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

International Trade

Course Department: Economics
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments: The course was okay. It wasn't very challenging.
Credit Transfer Issues: no
Course Name/Rating:

History of European Integration

Course Department: History
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments: The easiest course I had. Not challenging at all.
Credit Transfer Issues: no
Course Name/Rating:

European Politics

Course Department: European Studies
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments: The most challenging course I took. The instructor taught at Harvard, very strict. It gave me a lot of stress but I learned a lot from it.
Credit Transfer Issues: no
Course Name/Rating:

Contemporary Political Philosophy

Course Department: Political Science
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments: The course was fine. I really liked the professor, he has a very heavy Italian accent. But it was a great course.
Credit Transfer Issues: no
Course Name/Rating:

Intermediate French

Course Department: Modern Language
Instructor:
Instruction Language: French
Comments: A very challenging course for me because the instructor didn't speak much English, and my French was not good enough to understand everything in French. But I worked hard and it turned out okay.
Credit Transfer Issues: no