Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Moscow: Best Experience of My Life Past Review

By (SUNY - College at Geneseo) - abroad from 05/15/2012 to 06/14/2012 with

SUNY Geneseo: Moscow - History, Politics, and Culture

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned that we all aren't so different, Russia is very similar to the United States and we are all people in the end despite political discourse and different experiences. This experience was worthwhile and I would go back and do it all over again with no changes.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* 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)

I wish I managed my money better and found cheaper places to eat or brought more cash but for the most part when managed correctly its easy to live on a student's budget in Moscow.

* Was housing included in your program cost? Yes
* Was food included in your program cost? Yes
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $100
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Look around for different food places, don't settle for the first restaurant you see. Don't order drinks at the restaurants, bring water/juice with you the drinks are more expensive than the food sometimes and can inflate your bill. The supermarket close to the university has great bargains on lots of food items so stock up on items there at the beginning of the session.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
  • Hotel
* 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
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?
  • the location
  • the history
  • students we worked with at the host university
* What could be improved?
  • more pre departure meetings going over the language
  • more freedom to explore moscow on our own
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew that we didn't need as many formal clothing. There were more casual moments then there were formal. Another, I wish I believed that we would be doing lots of walking, I would have brought more sneakers or shoes to switch off.