Υπέροχα Past Review
By Lauren Chapin (Webster University) - abroad from 08/29/2017 to 12/23/2017 with
Webster University: Athens - Odyssey in Athens
I learned Greek, made a second home internationally and made a second family internationally.
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. |
Athens program was excellent because it is managed by excellent people |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Dina is the best there is |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Good area, apartments just needs some serious remodeling |
| * Food: |
Cheap food in the area, but there's no food at Webster |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I left and realized I'm not actually Greek and I'm bummed and I wish I was Greek |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
My friend did, I didn't. But she said it was hard, but it's not even easy in America so yeah I imagined it's no walk in the park, but what do you expect? Greece is in economic crisis, give 'em break |
| * Safety: |
I could walk in the streets of Athens, naked as the day I was born with a disco ball in one hand and a rubber chicken in the other and no one would say or do anything, and I'd be feel safe doing it. Greeks are too busy tossing around worry beads, smoking cigarettes, and sipping coffee to give a shit about anything anyone else is doing. Worst thing that could happen to you is your clothes smell like cigarettes. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
It was lit. Honestly had a great time, it was a small program so we became like a family. Why wouldn't you want to do it all again just to be with family?? |
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) |
Depends on who you are. Some people have allergies or food restrictions, so this part is subjective. Therefore I'm neutral |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Tried not to go over €50 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | USE A TRAVEL EX CARD IT DOESNT CHARGE YOU ATM WITH DRAWL FEES, RT TO SAVE A LIFE YO |
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 |
Yo I was talking Greek left and right and I want to continue to learn it. Ελληνικά κατεβαίνω τώρα |
| 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? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | None, never took Greek before |
| 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? | Use it everyday. Use it so much that it becomes annoying. And focus on pronunciation first, it's so much easier once you got that |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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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 it gets cold in Greece and that you're living in a city! A CITY, that means it never sleeps. |
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 BlazerCraving 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.' |
