Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Gotta Love Prague! Past Review

By (Minnesota State University, Mankato) - abroad from 01/20/2012 to 05/15/2012 with

USAC Czech Republic: Prague - Politics, Culture, and the Arts

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned about a whole new culture and way of life. I was able to explore 11 other countries and get a feel for what living in Prague and other countries was like. I learned how to interact with many different kinds of people and how to be savvy and patient in a new city,country,culture and language. It was probably the most worthwhile thing I did in college.

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.

I loved the courses, the teachers, everything really. The teachers understood that this was a important experience and made sure we were balanced with school and fun.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I loved K17. But it was probably a little 'shocking' for some people to see how minimally it was set up. No dryer was interesting.

* Food:

I loved Czech food. It was delicious and cheap! Perfect with a Pivo!

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt like I got a taste of the local culture, but I wish I had more interactions with local students.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I had no health issues, but my roommate seemed nervous after she went.

* Safety:

Prague was pretty safe, but it is always important to be aware of what can happen when traveling.

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 isn't on the Euro so it made many things very affordable.

Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? When shopping for touristy items or even clothes make sure to look around and out of the popular areas. Some stores charge twice as much than the one two blocks down. Similarly, if you are eating or drinking at popular restaurants or ones like the Hard Rock Cafe expect to pay higher prices since these are popular with tourists.

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

They gave us an intensive course so we could count,order, get directions, etc. But beyond that it was optional to take more Czech, though it did come in handy.

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
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? Don't be afraid to make mistakes and talk to people. Czech is really hard and even just making an effort is better than nothing. Plus many other Prague programs don't have any language lessons so you are already ahead of those other students.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The field trips
  • The flexibility and independence
  • The cultural experiences
* What could be improved?
  • Better descriptions of what housing is really like.
  • Faster response time with issues from director and staff
  • Interships/interactions or opportunities to interact with local students
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I had known how little interactions I was going to have with local students. I would have liked to have more Czech friends and contacts.

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.