Chills, nature fanatics, introverts, and socialism Past Review

By Caleb Coffey (Berea College) - abroad from 01/11/2016 to 05/24/2016 with

USAC Norway: Oslo - Undergraduate and Graduate Courses

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

Confidence in myself, an understanding of Norwegian culture and family norms, a bit of norwegian, and bits and peices of other cultures from international students. Yes absolutely worthwhile.

Review Photos

USAC: Oslo, Norway - University of Oslo Undergraduate and Graduate Courses Photo

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program?	1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.	Compared to Berea, the load was not that difficult, but the classes were good and definitely pushed you to learn
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program	Good for the fiest week, but then disappeared
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	Very nice location in Kringsjå, which was near trails and a lake and while my building was a little old, it was a good place.
* Food:	It was hard cooking for myself for the first time, especially for the first time also in a different country. But i did okay.
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	So Norwegian culture is really hard to integrate into. The average time for people to feel completely at home in norway is 7-9 years. It also hurt me that I don't like alcohol or night life stuff, and that is a big part of winter-norway. However, joining groups, joining school activities, and warm weather all help a lot!
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?	I didn't need it, so I'm not entirely sure. It is a welfare state though, so i expect the waiting would be long but quality would be good.
* Safety:	Norway is an extremely safe place to be.
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program?	Yes I am never one to regret decisions i have made. I grew as a person in Norway and had experiences and made relationships i would have never had unless i had gone there.

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)	Norway has a high standard of living, their income is much higher than in the US, so they can afford better quality things. So food and other things are more expensive if you don't work during the semester.
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	125-150
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	Alcohol is incredibly expensive in Norway, the less you drink, the more you save, trust me.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component?	Yes
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?	Being in the language is always the easiest way. Don't be afraid to throw out random phrases, sentences, or words in your conversation with friends. If you ever get the urge to try and say something in Norwegian, try. Usually people will help you out if you flounder.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Other Apartment
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Local Students International Students
* Who did you take classes with? Select all that apply	Local Students Americans International Students
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?	Cheapness Location Class options
* What could be improved?	Crash course on Norway More involvement throughout semester More help settling in
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	Couchsurfing is a thing and saves on travel expenses, don't book your return flight before you even get to the country, don't be afraid to try.

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 Adventurer The 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.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	Family and Gender Equality in the Welfare State
Course Department:	Sociology
Instructor:	Ellingsæter
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	Very interesting and revealing of scandinavian policies and history of policies on family
Credit Transfer Issues:	Nope

Course Name/Rating:	Psychosocial development
Course Department:	Psychology
Instructor:
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	The instructor wasn't there for most of the course, and it really didn't cover everything that is said it would cover. Really it should be renamed to "resilience in early stages of life"
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Introduction to Norwegian
Course Department:	Humanities
Instructor:	Frode
Instruction Language:	English/norwegian
Comments:	Very good course! Professor does a good job with pushing you to learn without being crushed by the pressure of learning. A very relaxed atmosphere.
Credit Transfer Issues: