I feel like the luckiest person ever to have studied abroad in Israel Past Review
By Jared F (Ohio University) - abroad from 01/21/2013 to 05/16/2013 with
Tel Aviv University: Undergraduate Semester / Year in Israel
I learned so much that it's incredible. I wish I was still there. Israelis are known for their strong will, independence, pride, generosity, and graciousness. Since I was there for four months, I had the pleasure of being more than just a tourist. I coached skydiving to an Israeli, translated a web developing system from Hebrew to English, hiked and camped in the Ben Shemin Forest, went to the Kotel (Western Wall), made some the best friends I have ever made, and learned about the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) from my friends in the IDF. The most rewarding parts of my experience in Israel was meeting part of my Orthodox Jewish family for the first time, and becoming proficient in Hebrew with no prior knowledge of Hebrew.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Tel Aviv University OSP program gives you a a wide variety of classes in English and have the option of taking them in hebrew. They are very interesting but not very difficult. This allows you the opportunity to fully see Israel and not have to study every single day. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
There is a hole office dedicated to the overseas program. They have RA's not like in the states they are actually there to help you get around the new country. The staff is extremely knowledgable and there to help. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Far nicer than any dorm that I have seen in the states. They have kitchenettes, your own bathroom, balcony, comes with a tv, and a cleaning service once a week. |
| * Food: |
They do not provide a meal plan, but there is plenty of food on campus, and grocery stores right down the street (two minute walk). The food in Israel is absolutely amazing. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
It is up to you to reach outside the American group. But it is not hard. I hung out with Israelis everyday and made some of the best friends ever. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Health care is very easy and very good. I had to go to the hospital one time and was dealt with quicker than in the states. |
| * Safety: |
The dorms are in a gated community with only one entrance that a guard is manning 24/7 and you need a RFID chip to get in, you have to sign in all guests as well. Also, there are cameras throughout the entire complex and fencing, monitored by the security. As for the campus, the entire campus is gated in monitored by security at each gate, you must show an ID and they search your bags. Another note; every security guard is armed. |
| 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) |
It really depends on what you want to do in Israel, you can either just buy food cook it and chill out. But if you want to go out and do everything that Israel has to offer then it going to cost you more. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Weeks that I skydived a few hundred other weeks less than 100. It all depends some people spent a lot less and others spent a lot more. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | I would save as much money as you possibly can before going. Plan out your events and make a budget. Going out drinking and partying is what will eat your budget away quick with you noticing. If you're going on a study abroad trip to just drink and party then go for it, however if you want to see the hole country and be able to do everything you want, balance everything, especially the partying. I saw people spend $100-200 easily in one night and then couldn't do anything the next week. |
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 |
You must do an intensive language program for four weeks, 4.5 hours a day five days a week. It helped tremendously being able to get around. |
| 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? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Just hebrew school and it was how to read and write and was six years plus prior to going. |
| 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? | Talk to the locals in their language as much as possible. sometimes you wont understand anything for a couple of days if you stay at a buddy's house who has friends over that only speak the native language, but that's how you learn |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Direct Enrollment |
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? | I wish i learned the language more before I got there. It would have helped me get to a higher level quicker instead of learning it all there. |
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 Avid AdventurerThe wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal. |
