Eye-opening, incredible, breath-taking Past Review
By Jenna Hughes (Berea College) - abroad from 06/15/2019 to 07/06/2019 with
KIIS: Israel & Egypt
This program was completely worthwhile. After arrival, I never once questioned whether it was worth the price. We were able to do things that I would never have dreamed of doing had it not been for this experience. I learned so much about the local customs, dances, religions, foods, and so much more.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
From the very first day, we had a complete educational immersion experience. We would have readings about specific sites at night, class in the morning to go over the main points, visit the sites, and then another class to discuss what we learned throughout the reading versus what we experienced. There was constant mental stimulation. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
We stayed in amazing locations- places that I would never have dreamed of being able to stay on my own. |
| * Food: |
The food was amazing, slightly repetitive, but very good and very affordable. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
We travelled as a group a lot, but we were able to break into smaller groups so that we were able to mingle with locals. As our professors were both very familiar with the area, we learned a lot from them as well as our own experiences. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I felt very safe in all the places that we went. Just like any other place, be aware of your surroundings, and keep a hand on your belongings. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
The program was wonderful. We did so many things and we learned so much in such a small amount of time. |
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) |
Our program's cost included most meals, so all we had to pay for was snacks and souvenirs. I found it very affordable. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $20 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Have a plan for what you want to get. It's very easy to get caught up in all the souvenirs when you first see them. But wait it out. Compare prices, decide what you definitely want, and try to bargain for it. |
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 |
It was not necessary for us to use another language, but we were encouraged to greet locals using the local language. |
| 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? | None |
| 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? | Record the proper pronunciation so that you can listen to it. Even if it's just playing in the background, you'll be able to recognize that word when a local speaks it. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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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? | I wish I had done more readings before going. Once you get there, you are so busy all the time. Even when you sit down to do the readings, your mind and body are already exhausted. This makes it hard to concentrate and truly take it in- which is sad because the information is so interesting! |
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 Avid AdventurerThe wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal. |
