Semester in Nicosia at University of Nicosia Past Review
By Reid V (PSYCHOLOGY., Bethel University & Seminary) for
University of Nicosia - Global Semesters: Nicosia - Semester in Cyprus
It was worthwhile! I gained a deeper understanding of life and rich perspective on the way that the world functions. One of the most valuable qualities I gained was a wisdom to know how to ask good questions. This is one of the most important qualities a dutiful global citizen can have, and the mixture of intellectual stimulus and practical experience fostered that ability in me.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
| The term and year this program took place: | Spring 2009 |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Classes didn't offer a challenging work load, but the topics were challenging because they were relevant to our experience. The blending of learning about something in the classroom and then experiencing it in real life forced us to think critically. Also, the light load for work allowed us the freedom to immerse ourselves into the culture. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The staff communicated well, and they were friendly and helpful! |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Our living arrangements weren't exciting, but for a study abroad experience, they were excellent. We were located close to the University, a grocery store and every other sort of business that one would need access to. The apartment was furnished well and we were more than comfortable. |
| * Food: |
The food was always delicious and it was satisfying to a diversity of cravings. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The Greek Cypriot culture isn't always the warmest, but people are genuine and kind. The program provided numerous trips that brought us all over the island and to many different industries and organizations. All of the events were successful. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Any health issues I had were taken care of promptly, and I felt safe. The city is safe. I would recommend that female students not be out at by themselves at night, because we had many cases where ladies on our trip were heckled if they weren't with guys. Don't be alarmed or deterred though - this is true of most places in Europe and the Middle East that we traveled to. |
| 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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Language
| Language acquisition improvement? |
I entered the country without previous knowledge of Greek, so it was difficult to make significant improvements in speaking it. Most people speak English, so that posed as a challenge to gaining more than a base for 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?
Select all that apply |
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Don't waste your money partying or buying souvenirs, because this trip is stacked with opportunities for traveling. There is a lot of free time to travel and Cyprus is strategically located as a great launching pad. If you love traveling, it doesn't get any better than this. For decent rates, a few of us traveled all over, including places like Norway, England, Israel, Egypt and Ireland. |
