Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Incredible Hosts for an INCREDIBLE Trip Past Review

By (Rider University) - abroad from 03/15/2019 to 03/24/2019 with

Rider University: Study Tour to China, Hosted by the Asia Institute – Beijing, Shenzhen, Hong Kong

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained an exposure to a culture unlike that of where I am from. I enjoyed not just seeing the sites, but also interacting with locals and feeling a part of the community. It was most definitely worthwhile and I would recommend this to everybody. The Asia Institute did a great job in preparing our trip.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The administration/leaders (Jane, Liliana, and Sunk) were incredible throughout the entire trip. They became not just hosts, but also friends.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

The food was absolutely amazing. I was able to try a wide variety of foods that always exceeded my expectations.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

If I could give more stars, I would. Everybody involved made the trip absolutely memorable and something that I will be able to look back on forever. Jane, Liliana, and Sunk went above and beyond to make the trip as fantastic as they could. We went to amazing places, met amazing people, tried amazing food, and had an incredible experience.

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? $150-200 USD
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Do not buy everything you see simply because you can. Be methodical in your spending.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the 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? 0

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Hotel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
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?
  • Hosts
  • Learning about the culture
  • Food
* What could be improved?
  • I wouldn't change a thing about the trip
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew a little bit more of the language before going, however this was not a problem at all.

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 Adventurer
The 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.