Time of my life and I owe it all to you (ISA) Past Review

By Diana G (International Business, California Lutheran University) - abroad from 08/25/2013 to 12/20/2013 with

ISA Study Abroad in Paris, France

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

I learned a lot from my experience. Yes I learned a lot of educational things (since I was in school) but I learned a lot about myself, I became this adventurer I never knew I was. I picked up a love for culture I never knew I had. I learned that things aren't weird, they are just different.

Review Photos

International Studies Abroad (ISA): Paris - French Language & Liberal Arts at Catholic University of Paris Photo

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.	Classes were filled with international students so the pace was a lot slower than used to but still learned a lot out of it and had some of the best professors I have had in school.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?
* Food:	French food is DELICIOUS and the French definitely have reason to say they know culinary art. At first, I was not on the same boat since I had a very picky strict diet, but I learned you have to enjoy the food the world has to offer.
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	This is actually my favorite thing about ISA. WIth their cultural exchanges and excursions I was able to experience the world in a different way I would not have been able to on my own. It was a true french experience.
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?	ISA was so helpful when I was sick. They did everything from take me to the doctor and translate since I did not speak french to going and picking up medicine from the pharmacy.
* Safety:
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)	Although things are expensive you will be surprised with how much money you won't need. I ate out a lot and still had enough money to travel to 8 different countries while I was there.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	Start early.

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
How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program?	None
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program?	Intermediate

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Host Family
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Americans International Students Host Family
* Who did you take classes with? Select all that apply	Local Students Americans International Students
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?	French people Cultural excursions
* What could be improved?	Having the cultural exchanges meet somewhere else so it seems more fluid Known about the Morocco trip sooner so I could have saved up for it in advance.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	A little more French.

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 Nearly Native or Trail Blazer Craving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.'

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	Debutant French
Course Department:	French language
Instructor:
Instruction Language:	French
Comments:	The class was definitely challenging because I never had taken French before. She was one amazing teacher that really cared for her student's experience. She made it interactive by taking us to bakery's so we can learn how to order. Took us to a pastry class to learn ingredient names. She even had a meet and greet with french students so we could practice what we knew.
Credit Transfer Issues:	I had a direct transfer for credits.