Learning to step outside the American sphere in Germany Past Review
By Skye Siladi (University of Maine - Orono) - abroad from 01/04/2018 to 04/26/2018 with
USAC Germany: Lüneburg - German Language, European and Sustainability/Environmental Studies
I think I gained a lot of confidence and independence, I had been abroad before in a non-academic setting but four months in a foreign country where I traveled a lot really pushed me into a new part of my life. I also understand the relationship of language to identity a lot more and feel like I can really understand immigration issues in a new light now.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 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 |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
The only reason I wouldn't choose this program again is that it didn't have very much to do with my major (anthropology with a focus on sustainable food systems), as a result I got a little bored with the coursework sometimes as it didn't feel incredibly important. I chose this program for the language, which was really great, but if i were to study abroad again I might look harder for a program that focused on my academic interests a little more. |
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 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 80$ |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Just track how much you're spending |
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? | Intermediate |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 200 |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? |
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? | 0 |
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? | This is such a hard question to answer because you're going to try to prepare for everything on a trip but you just really can't, there will be things you aren't prepared for and you'll learn as you go, there's nothing that I think could have really helped, you just have to learn as you go. |
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 LinguistYou 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! |
