Study Abroad to Austria: Springtime for Kevin Past Review
By A student (Political Science and Government., Austin College) - abroad from 02/04/2013 to 06/28/2013 with
Central College Abroad: Study Abroad in Vienna, Austria
I learned a lot about myself. What I appreciated in life, who was most important to me, and what my priorities were.
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. |
I wouldn't say the courses were exceedingly hard, but my German improved more than I could have hoped, and I learned a lot of Austrian history. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The program leaders were wonderful and always helpful. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
They were certainly satisfactory, but I was not used to living with a roommate or in a dorm type setting. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I did many of the things that felt local and Viennese, but few of my acquittances were Austrians. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I never felt unsafe while traveling through the city, even at night. Just be wary while on public transportation and in large crowds. |
| 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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | About 70 euros |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Cook for yourself as much as possible, and don't overdo it on souvenirs. You'll have to fly them back in your suitcase. |
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? | Beginner |
| 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? | 3rd semester of German |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Use it often and outside of class. |
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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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? | How to do grocery shopping, and make a good budget. There was a lot of guesswork for a while, and it was hard to buy food for more than a few days with just a mini fridge. |
