Great experience, do so much, but never feel immersed Past Review

By (SUNY - College at Geneseo) - abroad from 06/24/2018 to 07/31/2018 with

SUNY Geneseo: Traveling - Mediterranean Roots Summer Program

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
so much, yes

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

It must be very difficult to balance fit a semester's worth of material into 6 weeks, especially while also traveling and trying to experience as much as possible of 3 countries (4 including the Vatican), but this program is so well organized and run that i had plenty of time for both

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

variable

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

i never felt at home, partially because we were always in large groups and partially because we moved around so much that we never got the chance to settle in and really know the place

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

this question should definitely have a N/A choice

* Safety:

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

I loved the program, but after having done a trip like that I would like the opportunity to have a more immersive study abroad experience

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)

relatively expensive, hard to eat for under 10 dollars a meal except gyros in greece

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 175
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? dont waste money at bars

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
  • Hotel
* 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? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • sightseeing
  • food
  • classes and daily activities relating so well to one another
* What could be improved?
  • less time in mainland greece, not worth 5 hours in a bus every day to see the archaeological sites we visited
  • more time in spain
  • let us get pizza in naples
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? it's very hard to get a genuine experience while in a large group

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 Nearly Native or Trail Blazer
Craving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.'