Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Introspection and Confusion Past Review

By (St. Ambrose University) - abroad from 01/17/2018 to 05/26/2018 with

University of Nicosia - Global Semesters: Nicosia - Semester in Cyprus

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned how to fend for myself in a foreign country where few people know English well. I also learned how to relax and accept the world around me. It was a worthwhile experience, one that I needed to have I suppose. I also was able to travel to the Netherlands, which was one of my main goals when coming abroad. I loved that place. So the Netherlands made it worthwhile.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

My two math courses were wonderful, however my two other courses were less so. It was nearly impossible to contact the teacher. Otherwise the university had ample resources and was a solid learning experience.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Laura was awesome.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

It was nice except for the cockroaches.

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt like everyone stared at me wherever I went.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

No experiences with healthcare. From what I heard people got the help they needed.

* Safety:

Some people almost got kidnapped. Ayia Napa can be dangerous for women. Careful when with Erasmus students as they often start fights at bars.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

I like this experience, but I think I would have maybe enjoyed being somewhere else. Cyprus is nice enough but it is quite hard to get around the island. Also I learned I like grass and clouds a lot more than I realized. Cyprus is very small, and very backwards in a lot of ways. There are plenty of problems with Cyprus that could be discussed, but I am not here to discuss those. Also it is not quite as expensive to live here as in other nations. But other nations have more to offer than Cyprus. Cyprus is what it is. If you are sure Cyprus is what you want to do, you will love it here. If you are unsure about Cyprus, it is worth looking elsewhere.

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)

Living here is way more expensive than St. Ambrose. I do not include travel in this

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $4,500
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Don't do the meal plan if you plan to travel at all.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* 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?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Meeting people from foreign countries.
  • Being able to travel to Europe.
  • Paid trips to the beach.
* What could be improved?
  • Communication about living arrangements.
  • Communication about transportation difficulties.
  • Communication with professors.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Anything about Cyprus and the issues surrounding it. Also about how the transportation system worked. And what flight costs were from Cyprus. Also I wish that I had known about how Cypriot people would treat me while I was here. Many were nice, but many more were rude and treated me with disdain.

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 Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!