Experiencing a new culture with Middlebury company Past Review

By Molly Freeman (Middlebury College) - abroad from 02/04/2018 to 05/18/2018 with

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

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

I gained a lot of experience just simply living in a city. I had never lived in a city or in an apartment on my own/with students my age so cooking, navigating, being safe was all a new and great experience. Also, traveling on my own and so often was also a great life experience.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program?	2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program	Very nice and helpful administration
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?
* Food:
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?	I never had an experience with healthcare.
* Safety:	As a woman, sometimes the city felt unsafe, especially at night due to the bar/club scene that is so prevalent in Prague.
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program?	Yes In some ways, I feel like I could have integrated myself more into the Czech culture. Although, we had such a big, close Middlebury group in Prague so it was difficult to stray away from that. I loved the city and the classes were interesting but I didn't feel extremely challenged during the semester, which at this point I do not see as a good or bad thing, just a fact of my experience.

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)	It was a very pricy semester.
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	$100-$300 depending on travel.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	Try to cook at home in your apartment.

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	I Really enjoyed learning Czech
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
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?	Practice with your roommates/friends and just play games with yourself when walking through the streets/on tram etc.

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	Americans International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with?	0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?	The schedule The trips Accessibility/kindness
* What could be improved?	Rigor of some classes some housing situations n/a
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	I wish I knew a little more about housing. I think the apartment picking process should be a bit more clear/explained. Visuals are always helpful too. I like to get an idea of where I'm going before I go.

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:	Michael Plzak
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	This course was very well taught and extremely insightful. I'm glad that I took it in Prague.We were assessed by papers and exams but the content was far more important than the evaluations.
Credit Transfer Issues:	I had no trouble.