A year later and still singing a Bohemian Rhapsody! Past Review
By Thea Toocheck (Gettysburg College) - abroad from 08/31/2019 to 12/14/2019 with
SIT Study Abroad: Czech Republic - Arts and Social Change
It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life! Finding my way through a country where I didn't speak the language and where I had to rely on wifi to use the internet, I became very proficient at operating and adjusting while I had no idea what was going on. We never really know where life is going to take us, so I'd say this is an excellent skill!
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. |
I learned so much! The professors are awesome—they all had firsthand experience with the historical events we learned about. The school has contacts to really impressive resources all over the country. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
There was some disorganization at times, but the people in charge are wonderful and always had our best interests in mind. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I had the loveliest host family; they really made me feel like I was part of their real family, and it was incredible to have the practical experience of cultural norms rather than just learning about them in the classroom. I miss my little host siblings so much! We lived on the northern outskirts of the city, making my commute to school around 45 minutes, but every minute was worth it because I got to explore different districts and see so many cool landmarks that way. |
| * Food: |
Everything was delicious! It's definitely meat-heavy, and they love their Pilsner (a famous beer that I didn't really like). My host mom was a fabulous cook. I miss the goulash and the pastries! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
My host family made a huge difference! I felt super integrated with them and their community. The school integrated us well with some really renowned artists, writers, and activists, but I don't believe they were representative of the culture as a whole. I don't regret that, though, because the people we met were amazing. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
This doesn't really apply to me, but in the first week of the program one of the other girls had to go to the hospital, and the school was awesome about taking care of her and making sure she was okay. She said everyone at the hospital was nice and the cost of care was way less than it would've been at home in the US. |
| * Safety: |
Prague is a really safe city! Some women got catcalled, but unfortunately, that happens everywhere. As a woman myself, I felt safe going home at night and taking day trips outside of the city on my own. |
| 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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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 |
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 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'd explored more! I certainly did a lot, but I've learned about other places in the city and country that I would have loved to visit. I guess I'll just have to go back! |
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 Academic or LinguistYou went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you! |
