No Longer a Foreigner Past Review
By Lauren H (Journalism., University of Nevada - Reno) - abroad from 05/20/2011 to 07/29/2011 with
USAC France: Pau - French Language and European Studies
You can do anything you want. You heard it when you were young, you fought it against it when you got older, and then you go abroad and realize they weren't lying to you. You can do anything you want. It's such an amazing experience and an amazing place. It helped me to recognize the actual size of the world. Some problems, as big as they may seem sometimes, are just a small part of the world and life. There's so much more to see and learn and without traveling I would have never realized. It puts priorities in perspective and organizes a path for your hopes and goals.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Definitely challenging, but in a really rewarding way. You were learning the language and being challenged to actually know it. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Oh, the absolute best! It was never even a worry! |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Home stay was the best decision I made while abroad. |
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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: |
Not even a concern, Pau is extremely safe and full of the nicest people! |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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) |
I could definitely live easy for cheaper, it's just hard to say no when you're in a different country! |
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 |
I only spoke the language. |
| 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? | Fluent |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Two years of French at my university. |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 10+ |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Home stay! Stay with the family, it's the best way to learn a language and the culture. |
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? |
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? | That I would fall in love with a city. That I would always be longing to go back to a city -like a fairy tale. That all the cliches of studying abroad are true. |
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 Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
