Stroop wafels in one hand and plane tickets in the other! August 22, 2022
By A student (Politics and Philosophy, Brandeis University) - abroad from 01/08/2022 to 06/10/2022 with
Maastricht University: Center for European Studies, Semester Programmes
I learned a lot about how I work under pressure and how I love the thrill of being under the gun and working in a pinch to learn a language or run to make a flight! Because of that I was able to fit right in in all the places I traveled to by being ready to jump into their culture and learn all about it.
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. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Was a nice studio apartment but shared facilities were not always clean due to other students. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
I cooked for myself and am sort of a great chef if I do say so myself! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
The program incorporated you into the school as a UM student so I never felt like an outcast in class and they let you be independent to travel on your own. So, you could always spread your wings as far you wanted and travel to the furthest reaches of Europe and always come back to a community which was truly yours. |
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 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
Europe due to COVID, and the Netherlands can be an expensive country but there were ways to shop smart and cook using cheaper foods. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | up to 800$ for travel, lodging and food |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Book trips in advance and search for vouchers online! |
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 |
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| 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? | Spanish level 30 at Brandeis - conversational spanish which was very useful in Spain |
| 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? | Ask dutch people if you can practice and use Duolingo every night! |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Direct Enrollment |
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? |
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? | That the Dutch LOVE electronic dance music more than anything. Make sure you're ready to hear it at every bar and club you go to. But otherwise being prepared to be uncomfortable is something I was prepared for but hope everyone else can be because if you aren't ready for that then it becomes harder to integrate because you worry if you are falling behind everyone else. Take a breath and enjoy the discomfort--that is where you will truly find yourself! |
