Home Sweet Home Past Review
By Camila L (Business, Trinity University) - abroad from 06/14/2016 to 07/14/2016 with
Universidad Catolica del Norte / Catholic University of the North: Antofagasta - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
How different life in my own country is to my current home country. Yes, very worthwhile.
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? |
I was living with my family in my home country. |
| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The local culture is my culture. My study abroad experience is a little different than most others. I was just taking summer classes back home in Colombia living with my parents and sisters. |
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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? |
Yes
I loved being able to come back home and take classes here. I am an international student and sometimes its hard to be away from home. So being able to take summer classes and be with my family at the same time was amazing. |
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? | 10-20 dollars |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Try using as much of the expenses that are already paid. For example if your program gives you two meals per day use those instead of buying other meals outside these. |
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 |
All my classes were in Spanish. I was directly enrolled to a local university. However, my first language is Spanish. |
| 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? | An upper division course |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 10+ |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Do not be shy. Most local people love to see how foreigners want to learn their language. They will help you out. |
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? |
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 hard summer classes can be since you want to lay down and relax but you have to be ready to focus on intense classes that are needed for your major and other credits. |
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.' |
