Being independent in the city of welcoming people Past Review

By anna.peterson.731 (Messiah College) - abroad from 09/16/2012 to 12/15/2012 with

Study Abroad Programs in Greece

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

How to navigate, take control of a situation, not be intimidated by obstacles, Greek culture, how heavenly Greek food is, and how gorgeous the country is. Yes it was completely worth it.

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.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?
* Food:
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?
* Safety:	Protests aren't a danger to you, just avoid them.
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)	Had a food stipend for every fifteen days that I could live off of easily and even use towards trips.
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	0
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	Don't eat out all the time, eat at home and save eating out for weekend trips.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component?	Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language? 0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language
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
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure?	none
How many hours per day did you use the language?
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants?	Use it in your apartment with your roommates who need to practice. Also use it while ordering food or talking to locals, they appreciate your effort.

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	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?	Historical opportunities Exploring cities, islands, and Mount Olympus Daily activities
* What could be improved?	Communication from professors Better response from those who fix apartment problems The college making us feel welcomed and integrated
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	How the school operated.

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:	Photojournalism
Course Department:
Instructor:
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	Learn how to take amazing pictures for your study abroad experience. Have different themes each week to help you explore the city and visit art galleries with amazing photography.
Credit Transfer Issues:	I was simply able to transfer this course to meet my art general education requirement.