Going Dutch Past Review
By Rachel S (Women's and Gender Studies, Wellesley College) - abroad from 08/17/2013 to 12/19/2013 with
IES Abroad: Amsterdam - Social Sciences & Humanities
Completely worthwhile! I gained a sense of confidence in my own ability to be independent and organize my own travel and trips and budget my own finances like I never have before.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The course homework was slightly less than at my home university which is why I gave it at 3.5 rating, however, the classroom level was extremely intense and sophisticated, the professors were brilliant, charismatic and personable, and the opportunity to hear the perspectives of students from around the world was invaluable! |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Staff was friendly, helpful and obviously caring. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
The grocery stores were very affordable, and there were lots of not-so-exprensive places to eat and order the out. |
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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 personally did not but they provided a free therapist/nutritionist for us to talk with and members of my program did take advantage and had extremely positive things to say about it. Programs directors met members of my program at the hospital when admitted and getting into the doctor and getting prescription seemed no problem for my friends. |
| * Safety: |
Always felt extremely safe, the people were incredibly nice and friendly and helpful, I never felt I was in an unsafe area or situation no matter where I was in amsterdam, who I was with/alone, or what time of day or night it was. My friends would say the same. |
| 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? | It depended on the week, I spent the most buying housing needs and start up costs the first month, but on average probably 100 EUROS every week which equaled about $160-70 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Traveling is expensive! |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
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? | Start researching internships and volunteer opportunities before you go because you will have the time to do participate, it will help you integrate into dutch society and make local friends, and it is quite fulfilling! |
