Trier Awakened My Wanderlust Past Review
By Anna N (Undeclared, East Tennessee State University) - abroad from 03/20/2013 to 08/20/2013 with
ISEP Exchange: Trier - Exchange Program at Universität Trier
I learned so much. It really can't be put into words. Everyone told me, "Go study abroad. I remember when I did... it was unforgettable." And you know what? It will be. But looking through the rose-colored lens of nostalgia makes everything seem hazy and beautiful. If you haven't been to Europe, have realistic expectations. You will probably have a really good time, but life won't be picture perfect. You will miss the bus, fail a test, and get caught in the rain. And in two years, when you hear someone saying they might study abroad, you will turn to them and tell them it was the most amazing time of your life.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Honestly, I never really put the "study" in study abroad. I was far more interested in the cultural education, but the classes at the university were good. Usually it is one test at the very end of the semester that decides your grade, and it helped that the grades transferred back as Pass/Fail to my home university. Overall, classes were about the same caliber as my home university. Not too difficult. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Couldn't have asked for a better coordinator than Carsten Kluger. His English is excellent and he was always very accommodating and responded to my emails quickly. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
If you go through ISEP, you will almost certainly be placed in Cusanushaus. The pros: it is in the city center, so if you want to go dancing, you can walk home. You aren't stuck near the university like others in student housing after the buses stop running at midnight. You will spend more time enjoying the beautiful city centre and what it has to offer. The rooms are single, with a bed, desk chair, shelf, wardrobe, and some storage space. Best part was the big picture window. The cons: it's a really ugly green building. It's three euros to wash and dry a load of laundry, and a thirty minute bus ride to uni. Bathrooms are communal and unisex, so have fun waking up at 4 am to ninja poop, because you don't want the cute guy on your floor to know about your bodily functions. |
| * Food: |
Food was good, in general. Very cheap to buy from Norma, or Kaufland. The uni had nice salad bar in A/B Cafe, but otherwise the food is kinda meh in the cafeteria. Cheap, but meh. Don't say I didn't warn you. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Because ISEP students get placed in Cusanushaus, almost everyone on my floor was American, like me. I made really good friends, but might have been in a bit of an America bubble. Otherwise, love love loved the culture and absorbed as much of it as I could. I would have never known otherwise, as this was my first venture abroad, but apparently Trier doesn't have that "trademark German-ness". Maybe because it was so close to Luxembourg. At least that is what a few people in my program said who had traveled more. I don't know, I loved it there and it felt plenty German. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Five stars for German healthcare, four for the price. I had a terrible cold and strep throat while I was there. Signed up for health insurance through AOK, which was 80 or so euros a month, but I went to the doctor twice a month anyway. Very accommodating, just don't get sick on a Sunday or you are out of luck, everything short of the O.R. is closed. |
| * Safety: |
As a young female, I am very aware of my personal safety. Walked home late at night and felt pretty safe, except that my imagination kept spooking me. Trier is a small town, with almost no safety issues as far as I know. Just be smart and you will have no problem. |
| 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) |
ISEP gave me a stipend of 350 euros a month. I brought 3,000 euros and traveled a lot and lived it up, and broke even. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Hard to say... maybe 150 euros? |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Ryanair. Ryanair. Ryanair. It is the cheapest way to travel, believe me. Also, buy your own alcohol, drinks can be expensive in bars and clubs. |
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 |
I appreciated the program, but it was difficult because my level was A1 and my classmates were Japanese students who didn't speak English, so the teacher spoke solely in German. Not good when trying to explain grammar. I learned more from eavesdropping on my way to class. |
| 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 |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | A1 |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 0 |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | I think I would encourage people to try to be at least A2 or B1 before studying abroad. As it was, I am not naturally gifted in languages, and going in with very little knowledge kept me from using it in every day situations. Plus, in Trier you really don't have to use German at all, everyone speaks English if you ask them nicely. A timid, "Sprechen Sie Deutsch?" goes a long long way. |
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? | 0 |
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? | This will only be the beginning for you. On the plane back home, you will already be planning your next travels. |
