An incredible semester of traveling and having unforgettable experiences Past Review

By A student (ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE/LETTERS., Middlebury College) - abroad from 09/22/2015 to 12/11/2015 with

UPCES - Study Abroad in Prague (CERGE-EI, Charles University)

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

I learned a lot about being independent and prioritizing. Although I learned so me of this at Middlebury, living on your own in a foreign country really teaches you how to take care of yourself and manage your time/priorities. It was definitely worthwhile I learned a ton and I wish I could go back!

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program?	0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.	I enjoyed taking courses that I had never been exposed to at Middlebury (i.e. classes about communism and post-socialist europe)
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?
* Food:	The food was really cheap which was great and a ton of American options!
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	The only issue I had was I did not feel very welcomed by the people in Prague because of the cultural gap but I still felt integrated with the culture
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?	The pharmacies were all very helpful and explained which medications were like American ones (like Advil)
* Safety:	Pick-pocketing is really common so you always had to be careful. However the city was a lot safer than I thought it would be!
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program?	Yes

Finances

* 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)	Prague was very inexpensive, particularly food wise so it was very easy to stay in budget. It was nice to have money left over to spend on travel.
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	About $100-200
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	I would cook. Going out to dinner is great for the first couple of weeks to experience the out life and cultural dining but going to the grocery store and cooking in your apartment or dorm is a great way to save money.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component?	Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language? 0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language
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?	Beginner
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure?	None. I had taken high level Spanish courses but no Czech courses. I had no exposure to the language before going to Prague.
How many hours per day did you use the language?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Apartment
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Americans
* Who did you take classes with? Select all that apply	Local Students Americans
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?	Courses
* What could be improved?	Nothing I can think of!
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	To not pack so many clothes! You do not need nearly as much as you think you do.

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 Outright Urbanite A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	Comprehending the Holocaust
Course Department:	History
Instructor:	Michal Pizak
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	The course was awesome. I have taken courses about the Holocaust before but this course was unlike any I have taken. The teacher was very knowledgable and was very interested in what his students had to say. The course provided an in-depth analysis that was enriching and deepened my understanding of the event. We went on a field trip to Auschwitz which was a life-changing experience I will never forget.
Credit Transfer Issues:	No issues!