Abroad in London Past Review
By Jessica W (Elementary Education, New Mexico State University) for
AIFS London - Richmond, The American International University in London
It was very worthwhile. I gained knowledge and great memories from it and new friends as well. I was able to see things that I have been dying to see for years because of my interest in the Tudor period of England. It was a great expereince and it reminded me how fortunate I am.
Personal Information
| The term and year this program took place: | Summer 2009 |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The academics were great. The teachers were very knowledgable and eager to share their knowledge with students. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The administration was very helpful and attentive to students' needs. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
There were plumbing issues and the pipes in my room leaked. However, I was moved to a much nicer room and the staff was very concerned with making me as comfortable as possible after the incident. The laundry rooms could have been better, as there were hardly enough washers and dryers and the dryers were very ineffective. |
| * Food: |
The food was good, but I would have liked to see a variety for a breakfast. The same things were served every morning. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
A lot to do in London, and the staff organized some great day trips! |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
The staff would make you doctor appointments when you were sick, so that was good. As far as safety goes, there was 24 hour security and I guess that the only times I did not feel safe was when I was around the city at night, given the fact that big and busy cities can be dangerous. I am also not used to city life. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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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) |
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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Not much to say about the banking service. I just had to remember that when I was taking out GBP I was taking out more American dollars, so it got hard to keep track. |
Language
| Language acquisition improvement? |
Since I was in the UK most people spoke English, but I did take a trip to Paris and learned a bit more French than I already knew. |
A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Don't let yourself get overwhelmed. Just pay attention to your expenses and your travel requirements and also to directions around the area you are in. As long as you remain alert, you will be fine. |
