A challenging but worthwhile experience in a Host Family. January 29, 2020
By A student (Wellesley College) - abroad from 09/01/2019 to 01/10/2020 with
Wellesley College: Aix-en-Provence - Wellesley-in-Aix
I learned that I am able to integrate myself into French culture, and was able to make lifelong friends with my host family. I learned that Sciences Po has difficult courses.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 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? |
Yes
I loved living in Aix, discovering the city, and traveling across Europe. I would choose the same program for the contrasting opportunities at Sciences Po and Aix Marseille Université, but also because I had lots of fun with my host 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) |
Not enough food for lunches, but stipend helped a bit. |
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? | Fluent |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Fluent |
| 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? | Make local friends |
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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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? | I wish I had found communities to be a part of to make local friends, and not been as afraid to reach out to French students in my classes for help. |
