If only I could do it again. Past Review
By A student (Microbiological Sciences and Immunology., University of Wisconsin - LaCrosse) - abroad from 09/12/2011 to 03/11/2012 with
Exchange: Hessen - Hessen-Wisconsin Exchange
I not only learned more of the language and Germany, but I learned about people from all over the world. I have a much better world understanding and am open to so many more ideas, ways of life, and cultures. I grew more as a person in the last year than I would have ever expected. I would do it again, without a doubt, I would just do a few things differently.
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | Goethe Universitat |
| 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. |
The classes I had were very relaxed with not much work. I would have liked to have more variety of classes, next time I would have to search harder for more options. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Help was given as requested, not much advice or assistance outside of the required though. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
For the price and length of time, it was tolerable, however I never felt clean in the building. Between the mold in the rooms, messes in kitchens, and dirty bathrooms, it wasn't the most sanitary place. |
| * Food: |
Campus food was good and reasonably priced. I did prefer market food though :) |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
With Frankfurt being so international, I met more foreign students than Germans. It seems the Erasmus students have a different culture than the local students, but I was able to experience more local culture by meeting with a local family and also spending time with my Oma's family. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Health Care is the reason I had to leave my program early. I had struggled with something (still unknown) since early in my time abroad. I had gone to a doctor, she really didn't even give me the time of day. I tried other doctors, but same thing happened, or they weren't in my insurance plan. After weeks of being sick, not able to leave my room for days at a time, I ended up in the hospital for a week. I recieved minimal care- enough to get rid of the symptoms but nothing was done to figure out what it was or to prevent it again. Within a week of being out of the hospital, my conditions had returned, a few days later, I went to the hospital (only to be kicked out), and within a week of that, I was back in The States to recieve treatment. Insurance was amazing and covered my hospital stay and ambulance rides, but medical care itself was incredibly less than expected. Maybe if I wasn't a foreign student and had some pull in the German system things would have been different, but it's very difficult to establish a regular doctor as an exchange student. |
| * Safety: |
I never felt threatened anywhere during my program. A little common sense usually is good enough. |
| 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) |
Depending on the week, it could be easy or difficult. In the first few months, it was difficult- buying bedding, books, establishing cookware, etc. Activities were also quite expensive, but hard to put a price on fun experiences. |
| * Was housing included in your program cost? | No |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | No |
| 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? | Group meals at home are cheaper (and more fun) than going out. |
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 |
Classes were fully in German, dealing with advisors was done in German, etc. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 200 |
| 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? | Keep to it! It was difficult to stay in the language because the common language among the exchange students was mostly English. If you stick with it, struggle though it, and practice outside of classes, you'll make drastic changes. |
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? | It's expensive just to live there. The University system is nowhere near as involved as the American system, and you are truely on your own. |
