An exhilarating journey near the equator Past Review
By A student (Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Berea College) - abroad from 12/26/2015 to 03/27/2015 with
CISabroad (Center for International Studies): Bangkok - Semester in Thailand
What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
There is too much to describe and words will surely fail me here. Studying abroad teaches you so much. You learn in the classroom. I suppose that's the first thing. My courses were easier than the ones here at Berea College but that does not mean they were easy. I got something out of them and for that I am thankful. However, I learned so much outside of the classroom. It's difficult to describe how you've changed as a person because of all the international exposure. You are able to understand a bit more how other people view the world we live in. Of course the trip was worth everything that went into it. I would do it again and again if I was able to.
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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* 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? |
I do believe that I needed to be vaccinated before leaving the country to go to Thailand. However, they were not specific. I was not staying in regions that had a need for it. Dengue Fever does appear during the wet season in Thailand however. |
| * Safety: |
There was one bombing in Bangkok but that was roughly an hour drive away from our location. I would take a look into any countries history to determine if it is safe. Thailand's capital was under attack again after I had finished my study abroad trip. |
| 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? | $30 on food... $15 on cabfare |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Don't buy what you don't need...just because someone else wants/needs it doesn't mean that you do. Use cheaper form of transport. A bus might be cheaper than a cab....buy a card that helps save money rather than just using bills and coins every time...discounts might be offered this way Exchange rates will sometimes make everything seem very cheap, but you shouldn't buy it for that reason alone. Save money on the little things so that perhaps you can make a weekend getaway trip. |
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? | 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? | Nothing prior |
| 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? | Never be afraid or embarrassed. I made this mistake and it showed greatly. Friends of mine practiced from the beginning and could have decent conversations by the end of the trip because they practiced. |
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? | I wish I how to use the transportation system before arriving. I wish I knew how short the program was gonna be compared to that of others. |
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. |
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