Hands down the best experience of my life and most incredible semester Past Review
By tshifron (Indiana University - Bloomington) - abroad from 01/31/2012 to 06/08/2012 with
Tel Aviv University: Undergraduate Semester / Year in Israel
I learned the incredible impact a culture and people can have on me. I have learned to question and challenge every persons believes including myself. To To never be afraid to stand up for what I believe in and know is right, no matter the situation. To both protect others and try hard not to be a bully or stay silent when someone is in need. To display compassion in all situations. To not judge others based on a past I may not know about. The importance of history of a place. The sad truth of how much culture and religion affects a people and a nation. The effects poverty can have and how lucky I am in my life. How much every relationship matters, and to live every moment to the fullest because you never know when it will all be over. My semester abroad was the most worthwhile experience I have ever been a part of and I wouldn't change it for the world.
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. |
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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? |
Most of our program stayed in the dorms on campus. I liked the location and convenience however I didn't find the dorms to be very nice and wish that I would have had more information about living in an off campus apartment, which many of my friends on the program did. |
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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: |
The safety was over the top and it was so secure that we wished the rules were less strict. In the dorms we often felt like we were being treated as though we were much younger because of the silly rules, especially being in college. |
| 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) |
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| * Was housing included in your program cost? | Yes |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | No |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $200-$300 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Abroad is definitely an extremely expensive semester and I was not prepared for how much money I would spend. I don't know if I could have done it much cheaper either with the cost of food, living, and wanting to go out and experience the city so much. Getting a job and saving money before going abroad is the best advice I have. It is definitely a semester that cleans you out of money very fast. |
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 |
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| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Fluent |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Fluent |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | I learned hebrew as a baby and speak the language at home |
| 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? | I think it is really important for students to not be shy and really try to speak it as much as they can. Practice is the only way to get better so without trying, they will never learn it. |
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? | The only thing I wish I knew was how to pack better but that ended up being fine. |
