I didn't want to go home! Past Review
By Victoria Reichert (Berea College) - abroad from 02/05/2019 to 05/31/2019 with
API (Academic Programs International): Paris - Institut Catholique de Paris
After living by myself for four months and having to problem-solve, all while in a foreign country, I gained a great amount of confidence in myself. Additionally, I was able to enrich my cultural knowledge through visiting museums and other various French landmarks, and I improved my faculty in the French language.
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. |
I feel like I learned a lot! The classes were tough enough to keep me engaged, but also easy enough that I was able to enjoy them |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The dorms at the Fondation des Etats-Unis were very clean and surprisingly spacious. The management was very helpful. |
| * Food: |
The program provided me with 70 euros for food a month; naturally, that money did not go very far. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I interacted with locals on a daily basis. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I experienced a problem with bedbugs. The Fondation handled it quickly and completely. |
| * Safety: |
I cannot think of a time where I felt particularly unsafe. I was able to walk home by myself, late at night without issue. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I really enjoyed the university where I studied and the fact that my program offered excursions which allowed us to travel outside of Paris within the cost of the program. |
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) |
The cost of groceries was a little more expensive, though still pretty comparable to what I would spend in the US. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 70-80 euros |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | You will spend more money on food than you initially think. |
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 |
In my classes, it was mandatory that we only spoke French. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | French 340 |
| 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? | It helps to speak the language often with someone else, as opposed to studying by yourself. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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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? |
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? | Don't wait until the end of the semester to go experience things! Even if the weather is horrible, go out and do things! You'll regret it if you don't. |
