Brussels: Know Before You Go Past Review
By Heidi B (International Studies, Capital University) for
Vesalius College: Brussels - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
Every experience is worthwhile. I learned self-reliance, independence, and self-confidence. If I had to do it over again, I would research the program options more thoroughly before committing.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Sabine Lampo was an incredible program director, always willing to go the extra mile. Her direction and dedication was one of the best things about the Brussels Program. The program itself was well-formatted and well-organized. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
Excellent vegetarian accommodation. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The field trips and cultural events provided by the program were very well organized and enjoyable. Unfortunately, I did not adapt well to the culture, finding it difficult to adjust. I found the people to be distant, and I didn't connect well with others in the program or in my classes. The weather had a decidedly detrimental effect on my experience. I would advise future program participants to do their research on the culture and the weather before committing to this country program. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Brussels was very safe and public transportation easily accessible. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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Finances
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* 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) |
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Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
There were language courses available at Vesalius, but being an advanced French speaker there was only one French class available which matched my language level. Although I was able to speak French with my host family, I found that Belgians were generally unwilling to speak French with me. I would recommend this program for students who are beginning or intermediate level French speakers or those who are planning to study Dutch. |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Studying abroad is bound to teach you new things about yourself. My advice would be to leave your expectations at home and to be open to new experiences. The wisest piece of advice I've heard is to expect adversity in any path you choose. I would also advise prospective study abroad students to do their research before they commit to our programs, making sure that they are willing to deal with the less-enjoyable aspects of the country. |
