memories I will cherish forever! June 07, 2024
By A student (Wellesley College) - abroad from 01/31/2024 to 06/07/2024 with
University of Nicosia - Global Semesters: Nicosia - Semester in Cyprus
I'm grateful to have gained knowledge about a culture that is less work-centric than the United States. While at times the pace of life in Cyprus was shocking, I'm glad I was able to truly embrace it over the past few months. With the right community, I'd suggest this program to anyone as it's easier to make deeper connections with less emphasis on academic validation.
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. |
The academic are not too difficult, there are maybe three graded assignments in the grade book over the course of the semester which can make a mistake in a course difficult to rectify. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Lovely people! I would recommend working with any one of them. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The living situation far surpasses the arrangements at Wellesley. Each room has its own bathroom, tv, and stove. I lived in SIX residences, which differ slightly from the other apartments the program offers. The only downside is that I had a gnat infestation during my last month of the program, which the residences were not able to rectify -- even after calling an exterminator. |
| * Food: |
Food is up to the resident as there is no meal plan. With the stovetop in the apartments and several grocery stores in a 1.5 km radius, its easy to find resources in Engomi. I would recommend Pita Pita and Crepaland as the shining stars of the area. Super good food for pretty cheap! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I enjoyed outings in Old Town and to the occupied area of the island. However, if you don't initiate conversation with a local, you probably won't interact very much with people outside the program and ERASMUS students. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
The only issue in Cyprus that I came across safety wise were overexcited cat-callers. Other than that I felt safe walking at nights and during the day by myself. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
Over the course of the semester I fell in love with Cyprus. The island is gorgeous and the people I came across were kind. Additionally, the cost of living is quite low which makes local excursions cheap. So overall, yes I would pick this program again. Also, where else can you cliff jump into crystal blue water?? |
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) |
I went on many trips to Europe this semester, but for those who remain in Cyprus it's extremely easy to live on a student's budget. Grocery prices are much more reasonable than in the U.S. I would suggest taking public transportation over Bolts if possible as the student bus card gives a decent discount. Additionally, the Intercity buses and Kapnos shuttles were lifesavers when it came to making flights or seeking fun. Again, very cheap for 1.5+ hour rides. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 80 to 120 depending on the week |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | I'd suggest making a budgeting spreadsheet with updated totals of what is spent each week. It makes it easier to plan out trips and other excursions with projected financial information. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
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? | N/A |
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. |
