An unforgettable journey through rich history and beautiful culture. Past Review
By kyle.mccandless (Global Studies Major, Providence College) - abroad from 09/01/2012 to 12/15/2012 with
SIT Study Abroad: Czech Republic - Arts and Social Change
I gained a different sense of independence. Because I wasn't surrounded by a bunch of Americans on the program, I learned to make my own friends, be more independent on a daily basis, and explore the culture in different ways.
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. |
The semester academic studies were exceptional to the program's theme and understanding. The coursework was manageable, informative, interesting, and well-organized for the semester. There were some intense moments, but there was always time to manage the work load. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The program on-site was phenomenal. They did a great job in setting up the course itineraries, program excursions, and homestay locations. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I was very satisfied with the living arrangement. Although, the commute to school was a bit long, I enjoyed the family lifestyle and the room I was provided. Living with the family really gave me a different perspective on the culture. |
| * Food: |
Food was very different. There were many meaty meals, which I got used to over time. The food was cheap and inexpensive, however, there isn't a lot of diversity when it comes to food in Prague. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt 100% integrated with the surrounding culture! The classes I took were small and allowed for better teacher-to-student interaction. Some classes took place within the local parts of the city. The homestay families were very helpful in teaching traditional cultural aspects. Taking a language course also benefitted to the overall cultural experience. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Health issues were taken care of promptly. Many students became sick, and the healthcare was accessible and helpful to those who needed assistance. |
| * Safety: |
The city was completely safe. I have never felt so safe in a city, ever. There was no crime, no violence, and no robberies. The only thing that I witnessed frequently was pick-pocketing (which happens in many European countries). I felt very comfortable walking on my own, even at night. |
| 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) |
Expenses were easy. The currency value was lower than the American dollar, and the budget given beforehand was more than I spent. I also received several stipends which were very helpful. Money was not an issue for me abroad. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $50-$75 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Create a budget once you are there. You will understand the currency more once you have experimented with purchasing items in the country you are in. |
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 |
The language was very hard and difficult to learn, however, the language course and the homestay families encouraged you to use the language outside of the classroom. |
| 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? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | None |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? |
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 wish I knew a little bit more about the culture before experiencing it first-hand, then maybe I wouldn't have experienced a lot of culture shock upon arrival. |
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 Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
