Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

A Trip to Remember! Past Review

By (Accounting and Related Services., St. Cloud State University) - abroad from 05/16/2012 to 05/28/2012 with

St. Cloud State University: Italy & Greece - PSY 330 – Cross Cultural Psychology

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was absolutely worthwhile and I would do it over again a million times. I truly realized how big our world is and how much is out there to see and live through. You will never know of the beautiful things this world has to offer unless you fly overseas and start exploring now!!

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.

The classwork was very do able. But until you experience the culture, you will not understand the classwork. I learned more in the country experiencing the culture than I did in the classroom, by far.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Our tour guide was absolutely fabulous. He was energetic, full of knowledge and ready to make sure we were to have the best time we could.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The hotels we stayed in were just fine. Some nicer than others; but you spend such little time in the hotels it doesn't matter as long as there is a bed to sleep in.

* Food:

We had lots of opportunities to go out and experience eating in a different culture on our own and I absolutely loved it. The food was delicious and it allowed us to truly see what it was like to go out to eat in a different country; MUCH DIFFERENT THAN HERE!!

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

We were very busy with our tour group so it was hard to stray away; however we did have a few nights to ourselves that we could escape and go out and mingle with the cultural.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

There was no 'special vaccine' you needed to attend this trip, however you must be up to date on all physicals and shots.

* Safety:

I felt extremely safe of this trip. The tour guide fills you in on everything that you need to know about safety and what not to do to stay out of trouble. Most students were extremely skeptical about traveling to Greece with some of the things that have been shown on TV, but where we were traveling was no where near where that stuff goes on. The knowledge of the tour guide and your professors keeps you very safe the entire trip.

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

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)

If you were going there with a student budget it is manageable; as long as you don't want to do any shopping. However I went there with the intention of truly living it up and saved up a bunch of money and ate at fancy restaurants and did lots of shopping.

* Was housing included in your program cost? Yes
* Was food included in your program cost? No
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Only some of our food was included in the program cost: so with the extra food that I had to pay for I probably spent about $400/week.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Don't just think about it, DO IT!! Being able to not worry about how much money you have left on an amazing experience truly made it that much more enjoyable.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

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?
  • I loved while visiting all of the historic things we learn about in history class, they all came to life being over there and listening to a very knowledgeable tour guide inform you of what you didn't learn in history class.
  • I loved that our tour group was put with two other schools that our own. We were able to really get to know other students from all over the country. In the end, we ended up making some life long friends that I will forever stay in touch with.
  • I loved that the tour company this program uses, allows the students to opt to stay in the country longer and travel some more on their own. I ended up staying in Greece for an extra 2 weeks with a friend and really being able to put what we learned in class to work. It truly made this trip and experience of a life time.
* What could be improved?
  • I wish the length of the trip was extended by a few days to give students a little bit more free time in some of these towns. It's really hard to fully experience the culture behind a tour guide.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? You can never save enough money!!!