Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Nitzes Go to Turkey Past Review

By (Biology, General., St. Mary's College of Maryland) - abroad from 05/14/2013 to 05/30/2013 with

St. Mary's College of Maryland: Nitze Scholars Program, Turkey

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Entirely. I learned far more in class, but it was nice to see it in person. I almost wished I was an Art History Student instead

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 class leading up to this was a lot of reading, but the actual trip was more of a vacation, for those who like history.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Our tour guide was incredible. He was constantly providing for us, knew so much about the city, and was very approachable.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The first hotel wasn't bad. The second room reeked of cigarettes and had suspicious stains all over the floor. No one, including the professors, were happy with it, so it probably won't be used again.

* Food:

Vegetarians and gluten-free will have a hard time getting by in Istanbul. Breakfast doesn't have any meat, but it's always the same, and lunch and dinner consist mostly of meat and bread dishes. The couple restaurants we went to were very nice, but again, you could be hard pressed to find a meal.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt very at home in Istanbul, but I believe that is more because everyone spoke English and was welcoming to me rather than me assimilating.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

n/a

* Safety:

I would give this five stars, because we had no problems with safety, but in light of the current Taksim riots, I'd advise a bit of caution.

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)

Not spending money was rough because of meals - the area we were in did not have many markets, and there was no way to cook in the hotels. I also, if I had the budget, would have spent much more on meals and gifts. Save up.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $130
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Only the general. Buy big portions and save what you don't eat. Walk, don't take a taxi. And a pack of cigarettes is worth twenty meals.

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

90% of the people in Turkey speak English. We learned how to say 'Thank you' to waiters, and that was the extent of our Turkish.

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? None
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? none
How many hours per day did you use the language? 0
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Don't bother.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Hotel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
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?
  • Volkan, our tour guide
  • learning how to cook vegetarian Turkish dishes
  • exploring the city
* What could be improved?
  • that second hotel
  • less jampacked schedule
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I had had more funds prior to this trip, so I would have been able to buy more things.

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 Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.