IES Abroad European Union: Politics, Law & Economics

While it is hard to denote just one memorable experience, I would have to say that riding our bikes along the Dreisam River in Freiburg with the wind and sun at our backs was pretty great. We did this pretty much every day and it never got old! I met with my study abroad adviser and she threw this idea out there. I had never heard of it and I still credit her to this day with my amazing experience! I lived in a University apartment with 4 other German University students and one other student on my program. We each had our own room then shared a kitchen and a bathroom. It was a fun way to immerse ourselves in the culture without having a full homestay!

My most memorable experience? This question is a tricky one to answer. Most of my family and friends when I returned home asked me this and the only way I properly knew how to answer it was by saying the whole entire experience I had studying abroad was memorable and something that I will never forget! This might seem like a vague answer and sort of a cop-out, but every single new experience and adventure, person met, food ate, map read, sleepless night, lost moment, foreign word learned, subway successfully or unsuccessfully navigated, or picture taken added to the overall most memorable 4 months of my entire life. Summarizing this entire life changing experience into just one moment wouldn't encompass the wonderful time I had while abroad. I knew from the beginning of starting college that the only place I wanted to study abroad was Germany. I decided that I wanted to go during the fall semester and the IES EU program fit both of these requirements I had for a program! Myself and majority of the other students in my program lived in the German student housing area of our town that was just a short tram ride to and from the EU building. I shared a flat style apartment with 7 other German students and each of us had our own rooms. The flat had three bathrooms and a shared common living room/kitchen.

The instructors grade a little more easily, but the classes were just as informative and rigorous as my home university. The instructors all know English well. Research papers are common, and students will have to write a few small essays. Final and midterm exams are also regular. <br /> <br /> Freiburg is a good place for partying. There are several dance clubs that together offer a large variety of music. Public transportation is also excellent, and downtown is small enough for most everything to be within walking distance. Partying on trips is a little harder. There are some free evenings, but on most days students must get up early. Attendance is very important for field trip events and for classes. The coursework is also such, if one takes it seriously, to keep students busy on some nights. For an academically oriented student, the opportunities for partying are very good. Students who only want to "party hard" could probably find a better program for them.<br /> <br /> The living situation is excellent. The facilities are clean and fun to live in. The balance of having one program-mate or so in the suite, along with the other Europeans, works well too. <br /> <br /> The field trips make cultural exposure a little difficult. A lot of clubs in Freiburg don't meet on holidays, and field trips that take up some weekends make meeting Germans regularly a little difficult. <br /> <br /> The staff are incredibly helpful. <br /> <br /> Overall, I really can't think of how I would have made the program better.