Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Self Growth in the South of France Past Review

By (University of Maine - Orono) - abroad from 09/04/2017 to 12/15/2017 with

USAC France: Pau - French Language and European Studies

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It ws worthwhile. I gained a lot fo skills and taught myself how to get around on my own. Independence and self reliance were two things that I really learned while there.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Hard classes, but worth while. Teachers are wonderful and make the work worth it.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

USAC does a great job making income students comfortable in their host country.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

My host family was great and helped me get a sense of the country and town!

* Food:

French food is amazing! My host mom made some amazing dinners.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

They do their best, but you get out what you put in, which can be tough on a shy person.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

Pau is very safe, I had no problems while there.

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

This answers isnt fair. I really enjoyed my time in Pau and do not regret choosing it at all. I grew so much in my time there and met some incredible people. If I were to study abroad again I would chose somewhere else but if the question is if I were going to do it from scratch then I would go back.

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Probably close to 100 euros, this was a personal choice though and could have spent much less.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Use bus passes, rail passes, and any sort of student offer you can. A lot of places all over the EU offer discounts if you have a student ID.

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

Not many people spoke english in Pau outside of the people directly involved with the program, so you have to use french quite a bit.

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 language before departure.
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 get out and talk. Get a conversation partner, frequent local bars/cafes to practice with locals, etc.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • International Students
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 people I met
  • International students from around the world
  • location of the city
* What could be improved?
  • More overnight trips
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Nothing, I enjoy going into things and learning from my mistakes.

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 Urbanite
A 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.