Woah Baby! I Love Forum Nexus So Incredibly Much! Past Review

By hannah.levine.311 (University of Michigan - Ann Arbor) - abroad from 06/05/2013 to 07/03/2013 with

Forum-Nexus: Ultimate Summer in Europe - 9 Cities in 1 Month

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

The most worthwhile trip ever! I learned a ton about my own culture and all the cultures we visited and a lot about other cultures. I gained valuable knowledge about how to interact and work with different people from all over the world.

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 have learned so much on this program about my own culture and others. It's amazing! I never thought I would know all about the European Union and about the different people of the world in this kind of environment.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	Each hotel is actually wonderful! Breakfast is usually pretty good.
* Food:	Everything is delicious and everywhere we go there is something new and amazing to try!
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	I felt like I could really, really get to know the local cultures. Almost everyone we met was super nice and helpful. The program and the native people made us feel right at home.
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?	I didn't personally need health care on this trip, however my friends did and they received healthcare right when they needed it. Everyone in the program was sure to make them comfortable and get the medication and care they needed. The system is different than at home, but the people who needed it got the care they deserved so it didn't matter. Most of the doctors spoke English too, which was helpful (if they didn't someone on the trip spoke the language they did).
* Safety:	Even in the more dangerous cities I felt pretty safe. Some people were pick-pocketed, but if you are smart about it, then you should be fine. Just be sure to only keep what you need on you and always keep a hand on your valuables, especially in crowded, touristy areas. Also, do not go places alone. Even if you feel like the area is safe and you know your way around, it is not a good idea. Otherwise, you will be fine. I felt perfectly safe.
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)	The only meal provided is breakfast so you have to pay for everything else. There are a lot of different places to go for food and other items where the prices vary a lot. You can spend a tremendous amount, or you can keep it to a pretty reasonable budget for where you are. I didn't spend as much as a lot of people on my trip but I never really felt like I was missing out or lacking anything that I wanted or needed.
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	500+ Euros
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	Limit yourself to one drink per meal if you are in to drinking. Bring a water bottle. Don't buy things when you are out just because other people are. Budget before you leave and stick to your budget. Allow for some shopping and fun/pricey-er nights out in your budget as well.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component?	No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Hotel
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Americans International Students
* Who did you take classes with? Select all that apply	Americans International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with?	0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?	The People Hugo The Places
* What could be improved?	More Time in Each Place
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	Not to be afraid. Everyone is great and it is an amazing experience you will never forget and never want to. There are zero things to be afraid of.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	Cultural Intelligence: Working With People From Different Cultures
Course Department:	Soc
Instructor:
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	The course was not overly challenging. The course made good use of professional visits in relation to the course, as well as interactions with native people. The teacher was knowledgeable about other cultures so he shed a lot of insight on his thoughts about their relationships. I participated in class more often than I would have at my home institution. We were assessed by exams and papers, and one project.
Credit Transfer Issues:	I have had issues transferring credit but everything should work out now. Even without the credit transfer it is so worth going on this study abroad. The experience is everything!