A Few Americans Roam the Cobblestone August 15, 2022

By (Secondary Education, Northern Arizona University) - abroad from 05/31/2022 to 08/11/2022 with

USAC Germany: Lüneburg - German Language, European and Sustainability/Environmental Studies

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned how to confidently interact with people who don't speak my native language and gained lots of self confidence in the process

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.

Professors genuinely enjoyed teaching and were incredibly helpful and supportive.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I was warned that it was going to be an independent living situation in a Homestay with one other student, but what I wasn't warned about was how far outside of town I was. Every day, it was an hour bus ride (or hour walk) to town and to the university. This was incredibly isolating since buses stopped running at 8 on weekdays and earlier on weekends, and most of my peers lived within 10 minutes of town by foot.

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

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

I would do a semester long program instead of a Summer program.

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)

My housemate and I took turns buying groceries and cooked big meals to last the week, so financials were easy abroad because of our system.

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? Explore a German supermarket to know what ingredients you're familiar with and which are new, this will help when you're meal planning for the week.

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

Every day!

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? German 202
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? Just talk! You will make mistakes and that's how you learn

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • Host Family
* 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?
  • The classroom experience
  • Bonding with others
  • The food
* What could be improved?
  • Communication about housing
  • Classes taught on campus
  • More interaction with Germans my age
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? How clique-ish the different living situations became, i.e. Apartment squad, in town Homestay people