Study Abroad in Cluj-Napoca, Romania Past Review
By Emily (Southern Utah University) - abroad from 02/27/2017 to 07/04/2017 with
Study Abroad Programs in Romania
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I went from zero knowledge of the European Union to having an in depth education and understanding of the entire system. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The administration in Romania was very kind and helpful. They were always willing to answer my questions and meet with me. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I found a fantastic apartment in the center of the city, quite close to where my classes were held. |
| * Food: |
The food was quite good and I miss some things a lot, however I am vegetarian and the food in Romania is largely focused on meat. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I loved being part of the Romanian culture. There were always events and activities going on in the city and the central park where I could get to know people and interact. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I was offered very affordable health care, but did not purchase. I didn't have any health problems while abroad. |
| * Safety: |
I felt very safe in Romania. There was not a single experience in which I felt that I was threatened or in danger. I also felt that I had a good support system in case of an emergency. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
At first Romania seems like a strange place to go, but living in Cluj is a wonderful experience, and I miss it incredibly. |
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) |
I acquired a very generous scholarship from the Erasmus program in Romania, which made living very comfortable while abroad. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | I spent approximately 60-70 dollars per week on housing and food. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | I suggest cooking at your apartment when possible, traveling in groups when you go sight seeing, and living in a dorm (which would have greatly decreased the amount spent per week in my calculation). |
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 |
My classes were mostly in English, with the exception of one Romanian language class, which I do not recommend taking, because it was unnecessarily difficult. I still learned a lot of the language by immersion. |
| 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? | Spanish 3000 |
| 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? | Speaking with people at grocery stores and on the bus are great ways to advance your language skills. Don't be shy! |
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? |
