Aixpolring Aix-en-Provence Past Review
By Melina H (French, Miami University) - abroad from 01/06/2014 to 04/18/2014 with
CEA CAPA Education Abroad: Aix-en-Provence, France
Gained language experience, travel skills, street smarts and social skills, stepped out of my comfort zone and stayed outside of it.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
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 |
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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? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Got a cold that lasted for a while, so I told my program director. She made me a doctor's appointment for the earliest possible date, gave me directions to the office, explained how to check in at the reception, and told me that the doctor spoke English. I went to my appointment and got a prescription. The visit cost 23 Euros, and the prescriptions were 8. My director then accompanied me to the pharmacy, and showed me how to fill out the reimbursement forms. The entirety of the cost of the visit and the prescriptions was reimbursed to me and sent in dollars to my home. Go socialized medicine! |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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) |
Aix is an expensive city, but we were informed of cheaper supermarkets and stores. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Maybe around 20 Euros a week? |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Check out DIA and Carrefour outside of the city and buy in bulk! |
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 |
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| 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? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 300 level at and American university |
| 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? | Speak as often as possible, even if it's only Franglais! |
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? | Everyone will have bad days and get homesick at some point, but the good days make the bad days worth it. |
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 UrbaniteA 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. |
