Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

My Trip Gave Me the Travel Bug Past Review

By (University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh) - abroad from 03/03/2017 to 03/11/2017 with

University of Pittsburgh: China - INNOVATE, Hosted by the Asia Institute

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Going on this trip was truly eye-opening and exposed me to a new way of living and new technologies that I would love to see implemented in the U.S. It taught me that you need to be open to new ideas in order to succeed in life.

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

Our Program Coordinator and team were very friendly and made sure that we kept on track with our daily schedule. They were also very personable and I loved getting to know them!

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Each hotel that we stayed at was in a prime location for exploring the unique atmosphere and culture of the cities were visited.

* Food:

There was always an abundance of new and exciting dishes to try, although there was a bit of trouble accommodating for vegetarians, though that might be a reflection of Chinese cuisine and not the program itself.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

There were always opportunities to explore local shops and restaurants, and simply walking the streets gave me a sense of Chinese culture and overall lifestyle.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

There wasn't any point when I felt afraid or cautious of following the Program Coordinator's instructions or plans for the day.

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

I loved being in China! I loved the cities we visited and the attractions that we saw. It's such a dynamic country that is constantly changing, and for anyone who is looking to gain a real-world experience this is the country to be in.

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)

You could definitely enjoy the trip with minimal expenses, it all depends on the amount you're willing to spend on souvenirs and personal expenses.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $150

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 loved that the program welcome pamphlet contained a list of common words and phrases that we might need to use, and I was always learning new words throughout the trip.

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
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? no Chinese experience
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? Learn the necessities, such as yes, no and thank you, and the rest of it you will learn by submersing yourself in the culture.

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
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?
  • Visiting 3 unique cities
  • Being able to explore on my own time
* What could be improved?
  • Maybe giving us a list of all of the foods we ate once the trip is over
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? There are bones in all meat dishes!

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 Blazer
Craving 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.'