one of the most beautiful places in the world and a new family in Greece Past Review
By Kendall Byrons (SUNY - College at Geneseo) - abroad from 08/20/2016 to 12/17/2016 with
Webster University: Athens - Odyssey in Athens
I think I gained a better understanding of the world. I still I have FAR to go don't get me wrong, but being able to leave America and dive into a new culture and experience a different college setting I think teaches you important life lessons.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The classes were great, they were helpful and interesting but it was definitely a different experience from Geneseo, and the classes were much easier |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
very helpful and we all made personal relationships with the administration |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
It was a small school so a bit difficult to interact with a surplus of Greek students but we managed! |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
Athens, and plaka in particular where the school was located, was one of the most beautiful places I've ever been. Getting to live there and become friends with the close-knit program we had was something I would never want to change |
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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | On food and traveling by tram around the city i would say I spent only about $60 a week |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | cook for yourself instead of eating out! |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
encouraged to learn and speak it but it wasn't mandatory or an issue if we didn't! |
| 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? | Intermediate |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 0 |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Learn the greek alphabet before going and jus the basic stuff like hello, thank you, yes/no |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| 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? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | That it was a small program with only about 15 students all together |
