Best four months of my life...

I can't even begin to express how I feel about the IES Abroad European Union program. At risk of sounding cliché, I can comfortably say that my semester was the best four months of my life. Seriously. I forged lasting friendships, experienced a wide variety of new cultures, and formed a new perspective on the world. Getting on the plane to leave was one of the hardest things that I think that I've ever had to do.

LOCATION
Freiburg is the ultimate city in which to study abroad. Not too small, not too large, and in the middle of Europe. It truly is an incredible "home base"--Deutsche Bahn trains are within easy reach and EuroAirport Basel is close by. Freiburg is authentic but cosmopolitan, fresh but refined, young but diverse. Which should come as no surprise. It's been called the greenest city in Germany, and it's a major university town. In keeping with that, it's bar/club scene is fantastic. The student bars (StuSie, Mudom, and Vaubar) in particular are quite fun.

ACADEMICS
Much more time-consuming than you may expect. Classes were not necessarily more difficult than my classes at my home institution, but they were certainly more work. I've never had to write two 15-20 page papers in a single academic term. But in Germany I did. Which, given their system and culture, I probably should have expected. Regardless, it was a big struggle. I didn't really mind, but I do think that it's important to keep in mind that this is a more academically rigorous program than most. Also, you will have class on Fridays. There's no way around that.

FIELD TRIPS
So insanely awesome. The program includes 22 days of field travel. I traveled with the program to Berlin, Prague, Luxembourg, Brussels, Paris, Strasbourg, Lucerne, London, Stockholm, and Tallinn. In each city, various course-related and general meetings were required. While some were snoozers, others were incredibly stimulating intellectually. Our meetings with the European Commission or the European Court of Justice come to mind. Even more amazing, I think of our candid meetings with representatives of the Permanent Delegations of Russia and Turkey to the EU. The meeting with Russia's diplomats came right during the Ukraine crisis. What an incredible opportunity! His perspective was interesting and comparing it to the EU/U.S. perspective was even more fascinating.

HOUSING
I lived in a student housing complex in Vauban, where I shared a flat. Everyone gets a single room and shares a kitchen and bathroom with German and other international students. You may have someone in your program in your flat, but you might not. That said, you'll definitely have at least ten members of your program in your housing complex, and that means that group dinners and parties will become a fact of life. Get to know your German roommates! Not only are they likely super cool (especially if they live in Vauban), but they also are a wealth of knowledge about Freiburg and Germany. Some of the best conversations I had were spur of the moment and unexpected conversations with Germans about the United States, Europe, and international relations. One particular conversation about gun control will always stick in my mind.

SOCIAL LIFE
God. I couldn't have wanted anything more. While IES EU is not set up in a way that would invite a high degree of intercultural dialogue and interaction, it certainly is set up such that you will become great friends with the other Americans on your program. That's not a problem. In fact, it's a huge blessing. I made friends who I will be keeping in touch with for some time to come, and I expect many others would do the same. We went on trips, out to clubs/bars, and on short hikes/daytrips together. With only 60 people or so, it's no surprise that you'll become really good friends with your American classmates. Just don't expect a hugely high amount of intercultural interaction, unless you consciously seek it out. (For example, several of my friends played ultimate with the local team while in Freiburg, but they had to look for these opportunities themselves.) You also need not travel outside the program, although you totally can and should at some point. I went to Rome and Munich and couldn't have been more pleased. Other people visited Amsterdam, Dublin, and even Kiev. Bear in mind that almost anything is possible; you just have to find time (and money!) to make it happen.

OVERALL
I could not recommend this program enough. It's one thing to say that study abroad changed your life. Everyone says that. It's another for a program to actually do it. I seriously can't think of one regret I had in going abroad, and I'm glad that that's the case. If you want a high degree of cultural interaction and to become fluent in German, don't apply to this program. But if you want to work hard/play hard, experience Europe while engaging with decision makers and thought-leaders and making incredible friends all at the same time, then stop reading this review and go apply.