The greatest trip I've ever taken Past Review
By Ashley O (English Literature (British and Commonwealth)., SUNY - College at Geneseo) - abroad from 07/06/2013 to 07/13/2013 with
SUNY Geneseo: Traveling - Mediterranean Roots Summer Program
I learned that nothing goes the way you want it to, but sometimes that will work out for the better. I also learned a greater appreciation for history and humanities.
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. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
No meals were included, so I would recommend that that be made more well known. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
We were very well informed of how to be safe in the places we were staying, and for the most part we were in very safe areas. |
| 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) |
I didn't feel like we were made very well aware of how much money to bring. The Study Abroad department recommended we have access to 1000 US dollars, but I found that most of that went toward food. Personally I was unaware that meals were not included in the program, and while I was fine with paying with my own meals, I think it needs to be made more clear that because meals aren't included you'll need more money than you think. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | about 70 euro/100 dollars |
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 |
Most people spoke English, and it was helpful in Greece and Italy to have professors who spoke Greek and Italian. Spain was a bit more complicated because less people spoke Spanish but we still all got along fine. |
| 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? | None |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Spanish 300 level |
| 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? | Not really that necessary to speak Greek or Italian, but it might help in Spain to brush up on Spanish if you ever took it. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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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? | 0 |
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? | The "American" style of living is not the only way to live. |
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 LinguistYou 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! |
