A whirlwind of an experience Past Review

By Nicole C (Business Administration, Furman University) - abroad from 08/18/2012 to 12/15/2012 with

Study Abroad Programs in Belgium

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

My time abroad helped me grow and realize what it was I value in my life, through my travels and internship experience. I made some good friends from my own university and Rochester, which helped make the transition easier. I truly enjoyed exploring and learning about the different cultures between Brussels, my Italian office, and my personal travels.This was definitely a once in a life time experience that I would do again - probably having saved a bit more money before hand.

Review Photos

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program?	1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.	The educational experience for me actually took place outside of the classroom. The classes were not hat difficult, compared to what I am used to, so I was able to focus more time learning about the culture through my internships, travel, and the city.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program	Ruby was awesome. I liked how she didn't coddle or hover, but was there when you needed her to be.
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	Living arrangements were tight, but that's the nature of European housing. Major issues were fixed quickly, for the most part, but little problems added up and made the situation frustrating at times.
* Food:	The food is so good, but the ingredients are different and more conducive to gaining weight. That may not be of concern for you, but if it is, budget to workout.
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	The local markets were wonderful and they were always open to doing business. Brussels is nice in that it is a hub in Europe and almost everyone knows English.
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?
* Safety:	I always felt comfortable walking from the apartment to either class or the internship. To blend in better, I recommend listening to your iPod in transit and when walking with groups, talk in a quieter voice.
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)	Make sure to save money for the food. By the end of the semester, I had to cut back on "real meals" and resort to a PB&J for lunch and soups for dinners.
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	Between food and additional travel [including Fall Break] it comes to nearly $175 a week.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	Forego the Mobib if possible - the buses are always incredibly crowded and the ones to Parliament were unreliable. It was often easier and faster to walk. Also, begin keeping a budget right away. I went the semester without having a bank account there, so large cash withdrawals were convenient, but it is much easier to spend cash without keeping track.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component?	No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Apartment
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Americans
* Who did you take classes with? Select all that apply	Local Students Americans International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with?	0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?	The travel. The culture. The internship.
* What could be improved?	Living arrangements. Financial breakdown before the trip. Internet capabilities in the apartment.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	This experience was more than I thought it would have been in so many different areas, not because I wasn't informed, but just because I had never been abroad before and did not fully comprehend what to expect.

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 Linguist You 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!

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	Organizational Leadership
Course Department:	Business
Instructor:	Rambow
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	Teacher was clearly knowledgable about the material and i found it interesting. The one down side is that he has the students do weekly presentations in order to help people better understand the material, but the process gets dull week after week.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	European Organizations
Course Department:	Law
Instructor:	Marc Cogen
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	The material for this class [particularly exams] are more oriented around memorization instead of application. Most classes were taught via powerpoint, from which he read.
Credit Transfer Issues: