New Friends and New Experiences Past Review
By A student (Truman State University) - abroad from 09/01/2016 to 12/31/2016 with
ISEP Exchange: Jyvaskyla - Exchange Program at University of Jyväskylä
What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned so much about different cultures, and I felt such freedom and lack of judgement for who I wanted to be as a person because no one there knew me before. It was so worthwhile, and I would love to go again, to Finland or another country.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
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? |
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| * Food: |
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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
I had so much fun during my time abroad and would change where I went. I made a lot of really great friends, but I also experienced a lot of frustration. Overall, my experience as really wonderful, though. |
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? | probably like 100 euros a week with minimal to no drinking, so it would be more if you were drinking a few nights |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Visit/take advantage of second-hand shops and swap pages online and things like that. People understand you're living there temporarily, and you can also sell things back before you leave, so you're not stuck taking things back with you. When you're traveling, hostels are cheap, and Couchsurfing and Airbnb are fairly reliable. Definitely only travel with a carry-on like a backpack or something easy to walk around foreign countries with cause you never know if you'll be able to drop your luggage off immediately once you arrive somewhere or not. When you're staying in your host country, you don't always have to eat out. Buying food at the market and making your own meals saves money. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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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? | I wish I packed smarter. Also, trusting people is okay, and a lot of people are good, but there are still bad people, and sometimes you should listen to what other people are telling you. |
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 BlazerCraving 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.' |
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