Freiburg: Surprisingly Wonderful Past Review
By Susana B (International Relations and National Security Studies., The University of Texas at Austin) for
IES Abroad: Freiburg - European Union Summer
My knowledge of the Western Balkans and Turkey was not much, thus this program taught me a whole lot about the region and the problems that prevent them from entering the EU. I am now more interested in the future of these countries and how the EU may improve their conditions.
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. |
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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? |
My neighborhood was pretty safe. I felt comfortable walking in the night and did not feel in danger. My apartment was not located close to classes or the nightlife, but there was always transportation available. |
| * Food: |
Across from the McDonald's there is an international market hall. The are many choices of food, ranging from Argentinian to Arabian and such. It is hard to find since it is a bit hidden, but worth the search. |
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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? |
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| * Safety: |
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| 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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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | The dollar was weak, thus as result things were a bit more expensive than they would be at home. Buying groceries was expensive considering that their markets are relatively small and buying things in bulks was not really a choice, therefore many trips to the market were made. |
Language
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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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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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | The program offers great field trip opportunities that would benefit anyone. The EU program does focus on politics and governments, thus someone with a background in that area does have an advantage. Nevertheless, the regions which were covered during the summer are not heavily studied at most university, making the program worth taking for everybody. |
