My Second Home Past Review
By Elyse L (Anthropology, University of Northern Iowa) - abroad from 09/01/2015 to 01/04/2016 with
University of Northern Iowa: Klagenfurt - Semester in Klagenfurt, Austria
It was definitely worth it. I gained all sorts of friends and I learned about so many different cultures and people it was crazy but worth it.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
There was not a lot of class work, but the tests wee very specific with what they wanted. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Everyone in their international office was very helpful and understanding to our situation. I would recommend them to anyone there :) |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived further off campus, and it wasn't too bad. It was just older and a little loud. |
| * Food: |
Everything we ate there was fantastic! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Everyone we came into contact with was very nic and willing to help. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
One of the safest places I have ever been. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
This was the best thing I've done in my college career. I made so many memories and had so much fine and I cannot wait to go back and see how everything has changed since I've been there. |
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) |
Everything costate about as much as it does here. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $150 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Do not buy everything even though you want to! It will save you lots of money and will also save you the efforts of having to try to pack everything later |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
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| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| 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? | 0 |
| 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? | If you know where you're going I had a time try to learn some of their language before you go. It would be very helpful and I wish I had done it before I left. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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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? | Krampus is a real thing. Also there are so many more expenses after you get there that you don't know about shead of time. |
