3 COUNTRIES 18 WEEKS - INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE November 03, 2022

By (Communication Studies & Business, University of Tennessee - Knoxville) - abroad from 01/03/2022 to 05/12/2022 with

CIEE - Multi-city Open Campus Option

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned how to be independent in a foreign country which taught me soooo much with just trial and error experiences. I gained so many friendships and learned how to navigate an unknown place with all of them. All of my mistakes, lessons and learning experiences abroad will stick with my FOREVER and I'll never regret any part of my experience with CIEE abroad.

Review Photos

CIEE - Multi-city Open Campus Option Photo CIEE - Multi-city Open Campus Option Photo CIEE - Multi-city Open Campus Option Photo CIEE - Multi-city Open Campus Option Photo CIEE - Multi-city Open Campus Option Photo

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I LOVED the courses I took while abroad. Most of mine were hands on within the culture of my host city. We were able to walk around the city and actively see what we were learning about in class. I thought the courses abroad with generally easier than my courses at my home University and I loved how there was still time to explore outside of class time.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The overall on-site administration was extremely helpful! It depended on which country I was studying in but in most countries if I had questions or concerns, the on-site staff would get back to me with in a timely manner and help me out.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Overall and looking back I loved all of my living arrangements. This depends on the country you're studying in where there is normally an option between dorm, apartment or sometimes homestay living accommodations. I loved the dorm living because it allowed me to meet more people within my program!

* Food:

While abroad the food is obviously DELICIOUS and there are so many new foods to try! CIEE doesn't provide much food so the food situation can get a little expensive depending on what country you're studying in. The only country I was provided food in was in Rome, Italy where we got breakfast and dinner provided by the dorm 4 days a week due to the lack of access to a kitchen as residents.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I think CIEE did a really great job with providing the students with opportunities to participate in local and cultural activities! I was able to go to a pizza making class in the heart of Rome, rent a bike in Copenhagen for 6 weeks and feel like a local as well as go to tea time at the British Museum in London. These activities allowed me to be more immersed in the culture. The only "downside" I'd say is every student is American so you don't have classes with other international students.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Fortunately, through my experience I didn't have any major health issues or hospital visits but I was abroad during part of Covid which raised some other requirements. CIEE was very helpful in providing resources on where I could get Covid tests, boosters or updated vaccines but it was still all on my individual budget whenever I traveled.

* Safety:

Overall, I felt very safe in all of the countries I was abroad in (Italy, UK, Denmark)! The orientation that CIEE provides before you are thrown into a foreign culture is so incredibly helpful on what you should be aware of in the specific city of your studies.

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

The CIEE Open Campus Program is such a unique program that I had never heard of before. It allowed me to experience 3 countries and cultures in just 18 weeks while talking fun, hands on classes and making connections and lifelong friendships with people from around the US.

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)

I would say I wasn't living on my typical student budget. I saved a lot of money to go abroad and experience as much as I could while I was overseas. At my home university I try to keep my spending down to necessities, groceries and maybe a night or two out.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? On average, I was spending about $250-$500 per week depending on what country I was studying in but this INCLUDED: travel, food, weekend trips, airbnbs, and other shopping.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? - save money before you go! - get the app "To Good To Go" saves you SO MUCH money on food! - grocery shop instead of eating out all the time - fly with RyanAir - bring an EMPTY duffle bag so you don't have to buy more luggage when you accidentally end up with more stuff than you came with

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* 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?
  • Open Campus Aspect (3 countries)
  • Fun Courses
  • The Orientation & first day transportation that CIEE provides
* What could be improved?
  • Certain living accommodations depending on country
  • The food situation in some of the countries
  • Handeling Covid
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? 1. I wish I would have not worried about money as much and just done all of the things that were offered in every country. Money will come back, but those experiences might have been a one in a lifetime. Still budget and be smart, but if someone asks you to bungee jump with them in Scandinavia... SAY YES! I regret not doing it everyday 2. Try and focus on all the great things you're experiencing and the people you're meeting. It's easy to get caught up in missing home or feeling lonely but looking back, you'll love every moment even if you didn't feel 100%. BE PRESENT! <3

Reasons For Studying Abroad

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The Outright Urbanite
A 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.