WOOOHOOO I'M IN EUROPE!!! Past Review
By Amy J (Nursing., Valparaiso University) for
Reutlingen University: Reutlingen - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I wouldn't have changed it for the world. I know so much more about Germany, the EU, and many of the other countries in Europe, i expanded my past knowledge and history of Europe and got to learn so many other viewpoints of foreigners and their viewpoints about America. I got to leave my mark on people as they left their mark on me. I made friends that i will never forget!
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Loved learning about Germany and Europe in general. Germany has a very interesting educational system that is very different from my own and that made learning about it all the more interesting. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Everything was pretty good, i would prefer getting a better orientation about how to travel (bus schedules, train schedules, recommendations etc.). |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
We were provided sheets and bedding by our program director. We also were provided some of the basic cookware but we did end up buying more complex handy things that we needed. All the German students and other international students in the dorm all spoke english fairly well for the most part which was nice and esp. convenient for someone like me who only knew very little German. |
| * Food: |
Buying groceries is very cheap, along with alcoholic beverages. There are lots of fresh vegetable markets and that was nice. The baked goods (breads, desserts etc.) were AMAZING!!! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I loved our trip to Budapest, and Berlin. They were awesome and i learned so much! |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I personally wasn't impressed with the doctor i had to see for a severe fever/illness. He didn't seem very professional or know what he was talking about...he didn't prescribe me anything because he "wasn't like all the american doctors who pass out meds left and right." and he said that i had a viral infection. When i asked how he knew that because he didn't do any tests he said, " I have a gut feeling". But apart from that everything was good. Reutlingen was a very safe city, you just have to be smart...don't walk by yourself at night or walk around drunk. |
| 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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | i could easily spend 10 Euro a week on food a week without travel. Buying cheap and cooking your own food will really save you! Travel weeks were a little more expensive having to eat out and pay for hostels and transportation (not paid for by the Eurail). |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Budget! There will be random expenses that will pop up randomly throughout the semester so plan for it. Give yourself a nice window so there isn't a problem. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | None |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
I could practice the language with my German language professor and some of my classmates and a few basic phrases out and about Germany but me having not learned German prior to visiting, my communication skills were somewhat limited. |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Exchange |
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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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Travel a lot for little experience. Experience many different cultures and languages. Learn about so many other customs and languages! |
