My 6-week block with CIEE Berlin was incredible. If you are reading this because you are considering studying abroad here, then DO IT!
I had the most amazing time in Berlin. The city itself has a rich history that you just have to experience in person, the food was undeniably good and the overall atmosphere of Berlin was just incredible. Living in the heart of Kreuzberg was a huge plus, and I loved the trendy, young, hip vibes of the neighborhood.
The CIEE Berlin staff was always there to help me with whatever needs I had- whether it dealt with academics, housing, exploring the local area or just having someone to talk to. From the professors to the security guards, someone is always willing to help.
I am so glad that I chose to study abroad in Berlin with CIEE, and my biggest regret may possibly be not staying longer. I miss my friends, Curry 36 and Mustafa's every single day. Hopefully I will make it back to Berlin in the near future!
Again, if you have to chance to study abroad with CIEE Berlin, then please please please do it!
What would you improve about this program?
More excursions for classes would've been great that way students aren't stuck in the classroom all day and get to explore different areas of Berlin while still learning in the context of the class.
I also would've liked to see more staff members getting hands-on with students and really engaging and forming relationships/connections with everyone there.
I had the best semester of my life in Madrid. It's a great city, especially for students. Madrid isn't Spain's top tourist destination, but it is the heart of the country. I visited most regions in Spain, and 12 countries, and I would not have chosen to study anywhere else. There's no reason to leave on the weekends, but cheap transportation (domestic and international) is abundant if you wish to travel elsewhere on the weekends. The CIEE Staff went above and beyond to support the students. Occasionally, I stopped by the CIEE Study Center just to say hi to them because they foster such a friendly, welcoming community. I made many lifelong friends from other universities during my time here, including my host family. I would absolutely recommend this program.
Upon arrival, I was very impressed with the level of thoughtfulness and preparation of the CIEE staff. The city is beautiful and easily navigable. I enjoyed the "college town" atmosphere greatly and had lots of opportunity to interact with the University of Ferrara and the ERASMUS students. I participated in the Advanced language classes and they have been the most enriching Italian classes I have taken in my entire college career. The faculty is wonderful and their style of teaching really suits a study abroad environment. My host mom was a gem, and it was really nice to have someone to go to and look out for me. She was a very genuine and caring woman, with remarkable patience and generosity! Overall, I would go back in a heart beat and would highly recommend this program to anyone. And if anyone has a chance to visit the beautiful Ferrara, do it!
My name is Andrew and I studied at the CIEE Rome Institute in the fall of 2016. This experience was one that I will truly remember for a lifetime. Dr. Follo and all of the staff at the Global Institute were the most amazing people one could have asked to have as mentors and faculty going abroad. Going abroad I was a little apprehensive since this was the first semester that the Institute was established, but I hopped on a plane and headed over to Italy. From the first day I arrived at orientation to my farewell dinner the experience provided by CIEE was far beyond what I, or my parents, had expected. The housing provided to us was well beyond what a traditional college dorm would have been and far better! With this housing and the peer mentor provided I developed friends for life, as well as a better understanding of the Italian culture. Our peer mentor was a local who really knew the in's and out's of the city and provided us with the best immersion opportunity we could have. The location of not only the housing, but the school as well, was perfect for everything. Centered right in the middle of Rome in a safe and happening area, we were provided the best of both worlds. The learning experience was one of the best I had ever had, from daily field immersion trips to get hands on with the material we were learning to the group trips we took to learn about the history, I can not express enough how amazing this was for my education. The professors were highly knowledgable and experts in their perspective field of study, which really allowed us to thrive and learn far beyond a traditional class. I can not thank Dr. Follo and the staff at the CIEE Rome Campus enough for the experience and memories for life. This is truly an astonishing experience for anyone and I recommend it to all who are thinking about going abroad.
I always knew I wanted to study abroad. However, as the time to fill out applications was quickly approaching I was growing increasingly doubtful about leaving my home university. I transferred to my current school and found my home. I was heartbroken to leave my friends for a semester. I knew that I would enjoy my time in Europe but I was not prepared for how much I enjoyed my experience abroad with CIEE in Berlin.
I already want to go back to Berlin and I hope to live there in the near future. I knew basically zero German (besides the basics) before I chose to go to Berlin and I still thrived. I cannot express enough how much I loved this program and experience. Studying abroad in Berlin truly changed my life (everyone says that but it's true). Berlin is very diverse and it's refreshing to live there. There is always something to do in Berlin and an endless amount of restaurants (I'm a picky eater... this was important to me).
The way the CIEE Global Institute Berlin program was structured allowed me to experience and immerse myself in Berlin culture while learning from a different perspective in my classes. I actually learned more in my classes in Berlin than I ever have in any other course I've ever taken. In these courses we would often go on excursions that would allow us to make connections between class lessons and real life or history in Berlin.
I applaud this program and would recommend this experience to everyone. (I'm serious. I can't praise this program enough).
This program was a lot harder academically than advisors made it out to be. It was hard to get help from the staff about problems that occurred with teachers. I was also in a homestay that was not located in the city of Paris. We had many problems with specific teachers and how they graded which was tough to deal with. We also dealt with a lot of administrative tasks that students should not have been dealing with. I learned a lot, but the academic side made it very tough to enjoy the culture side.
What would you improve about this program?
Lower the academic standard as well as the grading scale because it is too harsh for an abroad program.
Not sure where to study abroad?....go Down Under!!
Sep 13, 2017
Australia is one of those places that people often hear about, and associate with beaches and a laid back lifestyle. Well it is that, and SO much more! There is so much natural beauty, adventure, and a lot more diversity than I had originally imagined. The food is incredible, and people are absolutely warm and welcoming. CIEE Wollongong had a smooth and easy process prior to departure, upon arrival, and during the duration of stay. The advisers are beyond keen to help in any way they can, and are always trying to make the stay for students the best one possible. More than just advisers, they have become my friends and international connections, of whom I still keep in touch to date. As for the Uni and academic life, classes are run a bit differently than traditional US schools, but not in a bad way. What I loved most about the Wollongong program was the location. There are some of the most beautiful & non-crowded beaches just down the way, and hiking just down the other way on the beautiful mountain range. Everything is easily accessible via free bus or train. Speaking of train, it only takes roughly an hour to get to Sydney! I literally was there every single week, multiple times a week, because there is SO much to see and do. From new food places, to events, to nightlife and more beaches...you'll never have a boring week. I had the time of my life for a term there, that when I got back to the States, I longed to be back in Oz. So much so....that I went back for a second go! Yes, I did the CIEE program twice, and let me just say it was so worth it! I'd honestly do it again if I could. I highly recommend this program to anyone seeking adventure, a new but comforting environment, and independence in such a unique county and culture.
What would you improve about this program?
More organised Sydney exposure for students. Not enough venture out on their own and explore all it has to offer! Something I definitely learned and changed from my first to second times with the program.
(Warning, some study abroad tropes to follow....)
I spent the semester with CIEE in Sénégal, and had a wonderful experience. Program activities, starting with the memorable ceebu jen on the terrace of the study center on day one and ending with the pirogue ride from Mar Lodj to Ndangane after a weekend on the island, provided fun events to look forward to and experience. However they were not so numerous that I could not create my own structure and life within Sénégal, and I found I had ample time to pursue other activities and relationships outside the program. I believe my favorite organized feature of the semester was the week spent in a rural village far away from the busy urban sprawl of the capital. I made some incredible friends during my village stay with whom I am still in touch, and I know that relationship will always remain. I found my deepest and most satisfying connection to this country was provided by the language skills I gained in Wolof and Serer, and would highly encourage those who are interested in the program to understand Senegal in its native languages. CIEE helped me with that, being the lily pad of language classes from which one can jump into Dakar from the very first day! I only recommend that future students shed their expectations and allow themselves to experience the full challenge of being in a totally new culture. Don't be afraid to make mistakes, whether you're speaking French or Wolof or trying to pour the perfect cup of ataaya. Make friends within CIEE, as they will be your support system throughout an experience that will be extremely difficult at times. But take time to be on your own and meet the culture head-on. The title of this post comes from something a friend of mine would say - take what is good from the past and leave the rest. My life is forever changed because of the love I have for Sénégal, and I know many parts of what I have brought with me to the present are enriched by the lessons I learned within and because of CIEE.
What would you improve about this program?
A few changes -
Make the study center a place where French is really emphasized and used. Don't just do 2 days a week where students are supposed to speak French only but no one really cares if they don't. I thought it would be a more intensive French experience within the student body, and I understand that you want to be inclusive of more students but it was really challenging to improve on French - a goal nearly every student mentioned- when you don't practice it with your friends!
Also, the staff changes during the middle of the program - we lost two of our closest staff friends because of administrative issues - were poorly handled from the lens of the common good. Though the reasons for the firings may have been legitimate, students were notified by email, which is a cold and confusing way to find out that you won't see your friend at school the next day. Additionally, one staff member was let go with 2 weeks until the end of the program, which was unfortunate timing during a moment where we needed all the support we could get. I think the administration sufficiently understands how this unfortunate situation affected the students, and I hope that in the future, conflict is dealt with in a way that is open and graceful. For example, I don't think tensions were so high that the teacher needed to leave at that very moment. Another two weeks, which fly by, and in which students are at their most confident and comfortable in the culture, would not have been too much to ask to keep a smooth operation. Instead many students were upset and confused. Open communication and a good understanding and perspective of the group well-being will aid this program in the future.
This program gets the immersive, expansive potential of study abroad right. And it helps students combine classroom learning to the even more powerful learning that can happen on the ground and with communities. Using frameworks of anti-oppression, human rights, and organizing, this program connects students to issues in globalization and development to the communities that are impacted by changes. And more importantly, the program connects students to the ways in which local entities and communities are organizing in response to development schemes. Students participate in home stays in communities with which the program has long-standing, mutual relationships. For students in my year, this program was a major launching pad into helping students take ownership over their education and inform career pathways. And for me, it fostered some of my deepest friendships.
I loved going abroad, and I am so happy I was able to experience the beauty, adventure, and history to Ghana. I woke up and saw the sunrise all but maybe 10 mornings in the four months I was there. I am NOT a morning person but I embraced the no AC, woke up with the sun and didn't regret it once. I was hot and uncomfortable constantly for the first couple weeks. But change is uncomfortable and growth is uncomfortable. It's much easier said than done, but go out of your comfort zone. Grab a friend and take the tro-tro to the mall your first weekend. You'll never master the tros without practice. And if you are comfortable taking tros, then the adventures are endless! CIEE shows you how to do it the first time and will tell you the route to any destination you want--but it's up to you to go out there and apply it! CIEE is so supportive and will help you with nearly anything you need. It is cheesy, but they become your family. The program staff are your aunties and uncles for your entire time in Ghana. If your U-Pals are amazing as mine, they are also your lifelines. Their support is priceless, especially for knowing the stuff CIEE staff wouldn't (about classes, college life, etc). I would argue that CIEE has the best program out of all the semester programs at the University of Ghana. Compared to other programs, they took us on the best excursions and overnight trips, provided the space for program-wide bonding and the people in charge are the best of the best!
Whatever you do, do not study abroad in Ghana with the intention to change the world or the situation of other people. Go for yourself, your self growth and education (not necessarily academic), and you will get 1000x more out of the experience. Show just as much kindness to Ghanaians as they show you. Going abroad in Ghana changed my perspective of how to travel and see the world--it challenged me to do it in a way that is authentic to the local people. Lastly... wear normal clothes. Unless you wear chocos and cargo shorts at home, you don't need to in Ghana.
What would you improve about this program?
Small things -- better relay of cost information for the VISA extension, better debriefing after orientation (maybe hold sessions on certain topics like 1) getting around, 2) gender relations, 3) traveling within the country, 4) making the most of your experience while abroad, etc.).
