Planning My Escape Back to Bruxelles Past Review
By Carlton S (International Economics And Finance, Brandeis University) - abroad from 05/21/2013 to 07/13/2013 with
CIEE: Brussels - Summer Business, Communications and Culture
This program was a life changer for me. Belgium was an extremely inviting host country. The program administration with Michelangelo, Chloe, and Yamina were wonderful and a necessary resource. The interns Anna, Casey, and Kim were also additional resources and younger for personal connections. My housing was located in a safe part of Brussels and my commute to my internship and to school was very manageable. I had a wonderful time in Brussels and I hope to return in the near future because my summer experience was the best time of my life!
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I took one business course called the Management of Innovation and Technical Change. The course was not challenging; however, the professor motivated thoughtful discussions and the cases were interesting and thought-provoking. I learned much about business innovation without the rigor of exam based course. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The administration was phenomenal! Our resident staff were always available and were a prominent resource for my acclimation into the Belgian culture. I love the efforts from Michelangelo, Chloe, Yamina and the interns for all of the hard work that they put forward. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I had the best housing in the entire program. My own big room, a kitchen to cook, and wonderful roommates. My landlord was very accessible but sometimes was a little rude about my cultural immersion. |
| * Food: |
Hello, Belgian food > American food. Frites, waffles, beer, baguettes, cheese, and oh yeah....BEER. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
|
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
N/A - I did not really have health problems on the program. |
| * Safety: |
I only had one unsafe altercation. The program gave us the correct tools to remain safe and stick together. |
| 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? | $200 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Yes, apply for the Gilman Scholarship if you're Pell eligible. And make sure to take out hundreds of $$ in cash when the exchange rate is favorable. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
| 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? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | To budget better. |
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. |
