Life-changing Past Review

By (Middlebury College) - abroad from 02/04/2019 to 06/01/2019 with

CIEE: Amsterdam - Social Sciences + Humanities

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was 100% worthwhile

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Enjoyed the course subjects and material but the lectures were far too long.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Finances

* 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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $300

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

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? Beginner
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? None
How many hours per day did you use the language?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
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?
  • The city
  • Bike Riding
* What could be improved?
  • Closer housing to central Amsterdam
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? You will show up to class sweaty from riding bikes

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Business and Sustainability

Course Department: N/A
Instructor: Simone Mattar
Instruction Language: English
Comments: It was challenging but not too challenging. A fair amount of out of class, real world exposure in the form of field trips
Credit Transfer Issues: N/A
Course Name/Rating:

Beginning Duch

Course Department: Dutch
Instructor: Lisa Jansen
Instruction Language: Dutch
Comments:
Credit Transfer Issues: No issue transferring credits
Course Name/Rating:

Intercultural Communication

Course Department: N/A
Instructor: Annabel Aardenburg
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Felt the material was recycled almost every lecture
Credit Transfer Issues: N/A
Course Name/Rating:

Political and Economic Development in the Netherlands and EU

Course Department: Economics
Instructor: Fardau Procee
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Fairly challenging but interesting and relevant information from a great source
Credit Transfer Issues: N/A