Love! Past Review
By Abigail Ross (The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 02/19/2017 to 06/02/2017 with
University of Haifa: Study Abroad at Haifa International School
I gained a better understanding of the culture and it was So worthwhile.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The two women in charge of activities for the program were awesome |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The housing was pretty bad. It was very dirty, even after a through cleaning and the walls were very thin, so a good nights rest was hard. |
| * Food: |
The food in Israel and Palestine is amazing |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I was very integrated because I lived in Nazareth prior. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I had issues with my back and they have a nurse on campus that fixed me up. |
| * Safety: |
The University is incredibly safe, especially the dorms. There were guards everywhere to guarantee only the correct people were in the dormitory areas. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
The local people were great, other international students were like family. |
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) |
Hard, Haifa is an expensive city. |
| 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? | buy groceries |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Arabic 4 |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | keep yourself accountable |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Direct Enrollment |
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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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? | 10+ |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | The Arabic program only uses Arabic in one class a week, The rest of the time you are speaking English so you must go outside the university to use the language. |
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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
