An Incredible Experience and Adventure! Past Review
By Kristina Litonjua (Cedar Crest College) - abroad from 06/27/2016 to 07/22/2016 with
Seoul Women's University: Bahrom International Program / BIP Summer Program
For my first experience being abroad by myself, I learned to be independent. I think this program is a good gateway for anyone looking to study abroad for a semester. I am also so thankful for being able to connect with people from different countries. It was incredible to see individuals from Korea, America, China, Russia, and other countries enjoy sharing their cultures with each other. At some point, you just forget that the other students are from different parts of the world because of the shared experience of being away from home.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
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 |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
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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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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I would definitely like to participate again in this program. I loved that this program focused more on immersive cultural learning and self exploration. It wasn't what many students would imagine a study abroad program to be. Instead of regularly scheduled classes, we had a series of lectures that widened our understanding of Korean culture beyond just books, and being able to connect the information we learned through visiting historical sites and interacting with the local community was a lot of fun. |
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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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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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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| 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? | I would have liked to know that I would be sharing a room with Korean students and not just students from my own college. At first, I was just worried that my living/sleeping habits would annoy them. Also, the electrical outlets were shaped differently and set in the wall and so my adapter didn't really work. |
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. |
