As it says - Experience Paris! Past Review
By Kathleen B (Government, Morehead State University) for
KIIS: Paris - Experience Paris (Summer)
I would have to say that my study abroad experience was defintely worthwhile! I took a culture class while in France, so my understanding of the French and their culture grew. I recognized some of my strengths and some of my weaknesses. I feel much more comfortable travelling in foreign countries. While in France, I also visted London, Amsterdam, and Rome.
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | Morehead State University |
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The expectations of the professor were not always clear. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The administration for this program was great. Everything seemed to be well organized and ran smoothly. The faculty was usually available and ready to answer questions. The administration seemed to truly care about our experiences in Paris and helped us to make the most of our time there. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The hostel were we stayed was quite nice. The rooms were clean and well furnished. The food provided in the cafeteria was okay. The only drawback is that there was really no need to speak French at the hostel. Because most of the other students were not necessarily studying language, English was always spoken in the rooms. The hostel was in a good location and very close to the metro. |
| * Food: |
The food in Paris was excellent, but the food at the hostel was not. Because Paris is visited by so many tourists it is possible to find almost any type of food, excluding Mexican. There is a really great website, called the fork.fr where it is possible for students to find discounts up to 50% off at some restaurants. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Paris has so much to offer from nightlife, to cultural events, to museums and galleries. There is always something to do. If at all possible, Normandy should be a day trip one should take. France is also ideally located to visit other countries in Europe. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I never really felt unsafe during my program. Paris appeared to be a very safe city. As far as safety advice, just use common sense. For example, it makes sense to always travel in small groups at night. |
| 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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Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
As we were in Paris, most of the people spoke English. I was, however, able to use French in everyday interactions such as ordering food, buying tickets, and while shopping. However, my vocabulary and grasp of the language did not really improve. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Make the most of your time! Get out on the streets as much as possible, whether rain or shine. Try activities that get you out of your comfort zone. |
