I learned a lot about myself Past Review
By Megan Trach (Barnard College) - abroad from 01/08/2018 to 05/23/2018 with
Syracuse University: Strasbourg - Syracuse University in Strasbourg
I learned, first and foremost, that I don't like living in France and I don't like being forced to speak French. Which are very useful things to learn! I went into the experience expecting to double major in Music and French, and by the end of it I knew that I wanted to just focus on Music. I learned that I can be a functional, independent adult, even when I don't make friends. It was kind of a lonely 5 months, but I was able to get the confidence to travel around Europe by myself and become a more self-fulfilled human being, which was genuinely worthwhile. I also learned that no matter how hard I try to be friends with people, sometimes it just doesn't happen. Lastly, I learned that I genuinely need to live in a place with English-speaking theater. I knew that I would miss living in NYC, but by the end of my experience I missed theater more than anything else.
Review Photos
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. |
I had heard that study abroad courses were not very rigorous, but I found that there was a pretty good balance of coursework, tests, and time to go explore. I wish that my fellow students had cared more about the educational aspects of the experience. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Most of the faculty were really lovely! Super engaging and kind. The only issue I had was I felt really uncomfortable during my internship and the Syracuse internship director strongly recommended I continue working with the person making me uncomfortable because "that's just how he is" and "he's harmless". |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I loved my host!! We clicked really well. I thought they did a great job matching me with a fellow introvert who didn't mind me practicing flute in the house. |
| * Food: |
The 5 stars is specifically for my host and her incredible accommodations food-wise. I have a really complicated relationship with food and almost chose to not study abroad because of it, but luckily my host was incredibly gracious and never pushed me to eat things I didn't want to. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I tried to integrate into Strasbourg culture by joining the wind ensemble and, signing up to do interviews with French locals my age, and trying to go to my flute professor's studio class, but I was never able to make a single French friend. I tried to come off as nice and willing to learn, but I didn't feel like anybody cared about me or wanted to talk to me. Bummer. I spent most of my 5 months alone. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I didn't have any problems. |
| * Safety: |
I felt very safe at all times in Strasbourg. Even walking back the 40 minute commute from the train station to my house at 1am. I think it's the safest city I've lived in. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
I felt very isolated from the Syracuse students--I would choose a program based from my home university. |
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) |
Food was pretty expensive, but most of it was covered by my host making me dinner and breakfast. The rest was frivolous expenses like traveling and seeing opera. |
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 French class was 100% in French, and I spoke French whenever I went out to do things in the city, but otherwise around the Syracuse Center, everyone spoke English (which I was very grateful for). |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 4 years of high school French, 1.5 years of college French |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? |
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? | How lovely and freeing it is to travel by yourself. That you'll have more free time than you know what to do with. While there's a chance you'll make best friends and have people to hang out with everyday, be ready for that not to happen. |
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! |
