A Beautiful Experience August 19, 2023
By Natalie M (France, High School) - abroad from 07/02/2023 to 07/24/2023 with
The Experiment: France: Cultural Discovery
I learned about the French culture and I gained friendships. It was worthwhile.
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: |
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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: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
I truly loved this program but after a lot of thought, I don't think I would do it again. I liked my experience very much and I wouldn't redo it. |
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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | I maybe spent 50 euros each week |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | You will be given money each day for your meals so just have a bit of money saved on the side for other things like souvenirs or clothes. 300 euros should be more than enough for the entire trip (at least for me it was) |
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 |
We didn't have to learn French for this trip but we did use common greetings such as Bonjour and Merci. We were encouraged to try our best to not speak in English with the locals but if we needed to, that was okay. |
| 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? | None |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 0 |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Try Duolingo and research beforehand some common words so that you aren't completely stuck when you arrive |
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 brought a larger suitcase for more things to bring home but everything fit well in the end. I wish I practiced French greetings a little more like what to say when you're in a grocery store or restaurant. |
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 BlazerCraving 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.' |
