ISA Brussels introduced me to things that I didn't even know I was missing Past Review
By Jordan C (Economics., Trinity University) for
Vesalius College: Brussels - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
Absolutely. I am a completely different in the sense that I am open to new ideas and know that my point of view is not the only point of view.
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. |
It was nice to learn about European history while living half an hour away from Waterloo and sitting in a classroom full of students who have a perspective other than the American perspective. Especially in terms of WWII. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Brussels has the most amazing staff. We were so close with our program director. She went above and beyond the call of duty. She always had coffee and snacks for us to eat in the office and the office was open at all times and on movie nights she cooked us traditional Belgian meals. Her assistant was helpful in the sense that he was young and gave us advice on things we should see in relation to night life. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I didn't want to live with kids or Americans, however I asked to live with someone that I knew from Trinity. The way housing worked out was that with this family it was easier to have someone to escape with rather than live with a stranger. The kids were sweet but they were young and wild so it was nice to have Nikki there with me so we could be united when we asked for the kids to be quiet and so on. Our host mom was really nice and did not mind when we asked for the kids to be quieter. Looking back, I think Nikki and I were the only pair of roommates that would have been able to live with that family for the entire semester. |
| * Food: |
|
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
All of the program planned excursions were awesome. I only missed one because my family came to visit me and I stayed in Brussels with them the day that the program went to Antwerp. Every other one I went on was an amazing time and we learned so much. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
|
| * Safety: |
|
| 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) |
|
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | It is really hard to say since I traveled almost every weekend. I probably spent from 100 to 300 euro's a week including lunch during the week and then trips on the weekend. For example, I went to Budapest, Dublin, Amsterdam, Gothenburg, etc. so my evaluation of the money I spent is a little skewed. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | be prepared to spend money on the public transportation card and you may have to spend money to register at the commune when you get to Brussels depending on how long you are staying and where in the city you are living. |
Language
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
|
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
