Absolutely breathtaking, and enthralling. Past Review
By Rosemary M (SUNY - College at Geneseo) - abroad from 05/24/2012 to 06/24/2012 with
SUNY Geneseo: Athens - Humanities Course
I gained a feeling of independence that I had not felt in a very long time. It may sound corny, but the experience almost jump started me, and gave me a little bit of inspiration that was much needed. Everything in life does not have to be so black and white, and traveling around, seeing how other people live, changes your outlook, and sets you free.
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. |
The class was very applicable to our surroundings, making it easy to absorb as much information as we were given. The resources were around us (ruins, etc.) and very easily accessible, and the intensity was just enough of a balance to ensure that we were still able to enjoy our trip, and get tested on the information we were learning. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The administration for the program was absolutely fantastic. That is no exaggeration. The women were there for us regardless of the issue, whether it be to talk, as an aid, or just to hang out. We often invited the host administrators to take part on our adventures throughout Athens. They were more than happy too, and very obviously enjoyed being a part of the program, and that really strengthened the program overall. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Nice, clean apartment. Decent bed. Decent bathroom. There was rarely any hot water, but that was a cultural difference, rather than one to complain about. |
| * Food: |
Very good food, both based on the vouchers we had, and on our own excursions to different restaurants. Also, very affordable. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Very. The people were very interested in us as study abroad students, and often would talk to us about what was going on politically, and socially, etc. Also, people in town would help to teach us Greek, or make us feel more acclimated to the surroundings in any way they could. Everyone was very helpful. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I had no personal health problems. However, I know students in my group did. They got immediate attention from a doctor, and were prescribed whatever the medication was. The administration of the school was very helpful in this process, particularly with translation and ensuring that the problem was taken care of in good fashion. |
| * Safety: |
Very safe. We were forewarned if there was going to be any kind of demonstration, etc., and taken care of. Regardless of the rioting in Greece, there was no point where I felt unsafe, ever. |
| 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) |
Very easy, 5. Greece is very inexpensive now. However, I am not someone who buys a lot of needless things (souveniers), which put me at about 100 dollars a week. Other people spent more, but it depends on your buying habits. However, if you are smart, it is very inexpensive. |
| * Was housing included in your program cost? | Yes |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | Yes |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 100 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | It's simple. There are a lot of things to buy every which way you turn. You just have to, rather than impulse buy, think about what you'd actually like to bring home. It's not a race to buy things, you have a whole month. Also, if you're trying not to go broke, set some boundaries with your family. Not everyone needs a souvenier to be brought back for them. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
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? |
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? | Mostly the money situation, cash is better than credit. |
