Prague Experience Past Review
By Ricki D (Psychology, Tulane University) for
UPCES - Study Abroad in Prague (CERGE-EI, Charles University)
While studying abroad, I was able to visit many countries that I have never been to. This experience made me a more well-rounded and independent person.
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 workload was fairly easy, and they were able to make most of the classes fun. The classes were 3 hours, so sometimes it became really long. We always had long weekends, which was really great. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The program leaders were very supportive. They were able to help us all find apartments once we got there, and were very helpful. They were always available to talk to. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
It was very stressful at the beginning of the program because as soon as we landed we were looking for somewhere to live in the heart of the city. The program was able to help us find apartments by having real estate agents give us presentations. In the end we were all able to live where we wanted, but it was a stressful experience. I lived in the center of the city and I thought that my building was very safe. We we located on a block with many bars, and were only a 15 minute walk from the school. Everything such as sheets, towels, and cookware were provided by the apartment. We also had people that came about twice a week to clean the apartment. |
| * Food: |
I was every surprised to find that I really enjoyed the food in Prague. Some restaurants that I would recommend are Clear Head, The Noodle Bar, and No Stress. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
i was able to see everything in Prague from the Charles Bridge to the castle. There is a class offered where you are taken on tours of the city each week. One memorable trip that the program takes is to Krakow. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
It is very safe in Prague, and really the only thing that I noticed was some pick pocketing. I did go to the doctor once while I was there. I was able to see the doctor within the hour that I called, and was given the medicine that I needed immediately. The program provided the name and number of this doctor. |
| 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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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | It is easy to save your money in Prague if you budget how much you want to spend on traveling before you begin your abroad experience. Some unanticipated expenses came from using budget airlines, and having to pay for overweight baggage. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
Most people spoke English in the center of the city, which is where I was living. However, we did take a course in Czech, and it was always fun to use our Czech when talking to people. The language course was able to give us everything that we needed to get around. |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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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 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 would recommend this program to any student! It was an amazing experience! |
