Most interesting and live changing experience yet! Past Review
By Kierra Butler (Psychology, Roanoke College) - abroad from 01/21/2016 to 05/27/2016 with
University of Nicosia - Global Semesters: Nicosia - Semester in Cyprus
I learned how to read people's body language more and patience. I also gained a new appreciation for my family and friends back at home, rather more appreciation.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I enjoyed all of my classes! I felt that the curriculum and class structure was much better than most of the classes I have taken at my home university. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Our program adviser's were definitely available to us but sometimes it took awhile to hear back from our adviser's. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I was really satisfied with my living arrangements! I wish that we had a better view besides the construction site and open dirt field. Other than that the apartment was conveniently near the University and the mall. Literally I could see the University and the mall from my apartment. |
| * Food: |
Make friends and go over their house for lunch or dinner and pig out!! The food was phenomenal. I ended up trying dishes from a few different countries while in Cyprus besides the Cypriot foods. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Since I am a person of color I didn't expect to see people who had similar pigmentation. So I felt as if I was an animal caged at a zoo at times. Besides that learning and really experiencing the culture was quite interesting. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
There were no prevalent health issues while I was in Cyprus. |
| * Safety: |
Everywhere I went I felt safe. I even jogged through the nearby neighborhood's every other day and felt safe. Not one incident happened. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I enjoyed and will forever cherish everyone that I have met during this program. It was so worth the long flight to get to Cyprus because the people I met were amazing, my classes were amazing, and the weather, beaches, and historic sites were definitely all 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) |
It was a little hard because of the exchange rate whenever I withdrew money from the ATM or just swiped my card. Sometimes I thought twice about the fancy pair of heels and other times I ended buying two pairs if you know what I mean. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | I spent about 100 euros on food each week and sometimes less because I would just cook or go over a friend's house to eat. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | I would definitely make sure that future study abroad participants set money aside for any expenses you think you will have on the flight home. |
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 |
As part of our orientation we attended a Greek 101 language class. |
| 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? | I did not enroll in a language course because it conflicted with my schedule. |
| 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 your neighbor's. Talk to your friends and roommates. Just talk to everyone because the more you use the language and the more you hear someone else speak it the better you will be at holding a conversation completely in Greek! |
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? | 10+ |
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? | That I would have so much fun and that I would meet such amazing people that I did not want to leave once the program ended. |
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 Academic or LinguistYou went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you! |
