Travel, Travel, Travel, Travel Past Review

By (Graphic Design., Oklahoma State University - Stillwater) - abroad from 09/08/2014 to 12/18/2014 with

Masaryk University: Brno - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
So much, I gained friends from around the world, I gained.. a lot of weight, but I also gained knowledge and experiences that I would never be able to get otherwise. It was so worth it and I will be telling everyone who asks me to go, just go!

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The classes were nothing like what I have experienced in the states. I felt like their difficulty was not because of the academic aspects but because of cultural differences and small exams for large amounts of information.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Martin, the exchange coordinator was amazing. He was extremely helpful with class enrollment, communications with teachers, and explaining what was expected of me while I was there.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived in a dorm-like building that was super close to the town center, a grocery store, and the public transportation which was extremely nice. It was also cool because there was a public kitchen and I became really great friends with the other international students on my floor and my room had pretty new furniture and was relatively clean for what I was expecting.

* Food:

The food there was really great, and was extremely cheap! There were also a lot of options to eat on the campus facilities such as a pizza place or cafeteria-like places.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I dont know if I was super integrated in the Czech culture per-say, but I was definitely integrated into a bunch of cultures around Europe. Having friends from all over meant cooking home meals for each other, talking about our countries and even visiting each other's countries. What is also great about the Czech Republic is that it is extremely close to a lot of other countries like Austria, Germany, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, etc. so it was easy for me to go to a new country almost every weekend.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

I never felt unsafe in Brno. Like really never, the town is not touristy at all so there are no people that are trying to steal from you or rip you off or anything. Almost all the streets were well lit and there was always people bustling about so there was never any fear in my opinion.

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)

Everything in Brno was the same, or cheaper than it was in the United States. Except for weird things like water at restaurants and imported things. But honestly i probably spent just as much money as I would in America and that includes going to nine other countries while I was there, so hopefully that puts it into perspective. Also, the housing was half of what I spend in America, around $150.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $50
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Try to cook your own food and not eat out! Even though restaurants are cheap, its so much cheaper to cook your own food and make friends on your floor than to spend money at a restaurant! Also, make friends who you could share the costs of big meals with. also try to take buses when you travel and not planes! They are usually less than half the price of flying or taking a train.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
* 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? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Location
  • cost
  • integration
* What could be improved?
  • classes
  • teachers
  • education
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? That not everyone in europe is "out to get you" and that a lot of people will help you if you are lost or confused by languages. Also, a lot of people know english and can translate things. And I also wish I knew not to pack so much stuff! I would have been fine in europe with half of the clothes i brought.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

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The Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.