Surreal Living Past Review

By A student (Business Administration, Brookdale Community College) - abroad from 06/11/2014 to 07/10/2014 with

ESSCA Business School: Summer Programmes in France, Hungary and China

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

I got a better understanding of how foreigners entering our country feel. Overwhelmed with learning a new language and new culture, However if you embrace it and know that it will not be easy you will have one of the best experiences of your life

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.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program	Our on site administrator was excellent. Anything we needed she would be right there to help us out.
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	the Residence in Angers was not the best living. I think it needs to be renovated, However I absolutely love the city
* Food:	the Crepes were excellent. However, they do not have a lot of options for people who do not eat pork or on strict diets. Be prepared to eat tons of carbs. A tip: they consider potatoes a vegetable. :)
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	local culture was great. If you tried to speak French they would definitely help you out. Angers local culture was different from Paris. Angers is a small city people are very Friendly. I found Paris people to be a bit rude.
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?	There are pharmacies EVERYWHERE. They had someone in there that spoke English too if you needed assistance.
* Safety:	In Angers and Belgium, I felt pretty safe. In Paris, If you are carrying a backpack especially on the train you should definitely wear it in the front of you. There are tons of people and there are pickpockets and beggers. In Belgium, the beggers are very aggressive. They will literally hold their cup in your face and ask for money and will not take no for an answer.
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program?	No

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)	1= Europe is VERY expensive. The food in the grocery store is almost double the price of the food here. My suggestion is to go to the outdoor markets instead of a Courefour or Monoprix the outdoor market tends to be cheaper with regards to fruits and veggies. It is best to bring your personal items especially for ladies because they are expensive. Going out to eat or drink will kill your budget. If you drink wine as most Europeans do its best to buy it at your local grocery store that is actually cheaper.
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	Between 300-375 a week
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	I would research the banks that are in the country you are going and see if they have one in the country you are in and use your Checkcard or ATM that way you avoid carrying alot of cash and there are no Fees. However, If you use your ATM and it is not a sister branch you will pay fees at the ATM and your bank charges internationally fees this is when you should either bring US currency with you and go to a currency exchange place or before leaving the airport to your study abroad country exchange your currency there.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component?	No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Apartment Hotel
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	International Students
* Who did you take classes with? Select all that apply	International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with?	10+

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?	The People and Friends that I made Learning about the European System, its culture and politics The Field trips and the historic castles that we visited
* What could be improved?	Organization Consistency in class scheduling privacy when it comes to individual grading
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	I wish I could have learned the language better. That would have really helped me interact better with the people.

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 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.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	European Ecomomics
Course Department:
Instructor:	David Reese
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	It was challenging. A lot of information to retain in such a short amount of time. However, he gave us projects in class and after as a group effor to illustrate our knowledge of the workload as a team.
Credit Transfer Issues:	I have not received my credits as of yet and it has only been a month.