Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Absolutely Amazing Experience! Past Review

By (Syracuse Academy) - abroad from 09/15/2020 to 12/17/2020 with

Syracuse University: Exploring Central Europe: History, Memory, and Identity Across Borders

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I really learned about the impact of Nazism and Communism on Central Europe and the lasting impact on the people, cultures and governments of these countries.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Juliet and Ula made the transition to living in Poland seamless! Both were always available to answer any questions and Ula spent the first week living in the hotel to be even more available to help if any issues arose.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

We lived in a long term hotel in double or triple rooms. Overall it wasn't too big of an issue and it really helped those in the program get close quickly. That being said, laundry was a bit of an issue because there were only two machines for the whole building. Also, the kitchen was quite small and the fridge filled up really fast.

* Food:

Poland is extremely inexpensive so I was able to try a lot of different types of food for not too much money!

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

We lived right off the main square and had the opportunity to explore the city often. Also we took the tram to classes so there was an opportunity to see everyday Poles and interact a bit with them. All of our classes were taken with Erasmus students from across Europe and they helped give various perspectives to the material we learned.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I didn't personally have any issues but I know one student was taken to the doctors while we were in Wroclaw and I believe he had almost no issues.

* Safety:

I felt safe throughout the trip.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

I loved the built-in travel that allowed for an in-depth analysis of each country we visited in a relatively short amount of time

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)

Very easily, compared to other friends studying abroad elsewhere Poland is VERY I expensive.

Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Remember you'll be traveling throughout your time so don't spend all your money in the first two weeks!

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

I took survival Polish and enjoyed using it in public, it was very easy to get around with just knowledge of English though.

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? Beginner

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
  • International Students

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Wroclaw itself
  • the staff
  • built-in travel
* What could be improved?
  • living conditions
  • kitchen
  • shorter lectures when traveling
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? To be open to all opportunities and not just the ones you expected to have when studying abroad

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 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.