Edinburgh Dreaming Past Review
By A student (Art History, Criticism and Conservation, Trinity University) - abroad from 06/08/2017 to 08/04/2017 with
Arcadia: Edinburgh - Museum Studies Internship Program
I gained great experience doing research and leading tours in a historic home. I also enjoyed more independence, such as doing my own groceries and planning my own trips around Scotland.
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 |
Overall it was very well run however the administrators are accustomed to 3-6 people for this museum studies program--this summer we were 16, so they struggled to find good internships for all of us. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My flat at New Arthur Place was in an excellent location--peaceful but also close to the Royal Mile. The only complaint is the mold-infested showerrooms that gave us all a bad runny nose the whole time. |
| * Food: |
Overall we self-catered, but when Arcadia provided meals at the start and finish of the programs, they were excellent meals. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt like a tourist at first, but then felt very integrated with Edinburgh when I had my routine at Tesco and learned my way around the city. At my internship in Hopetoun House I felt much more integrated because I made friends with the people who worked there. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
John Bennett (in the Arcadia Center) was tremendously helpful when I asked him for advice on my toothache. He gave me the number of the NHS 24 hour service, and I got an appointment the same day. |
| * Safety: |
We had no safety issues. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
This program fit my interests perfectly: history, castles, travel, folk music, working in a country estate. I made some great friends and took home memories of the best city on earth! |
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) |
I spent the most money in the first week and a half. Then I settled into a good budget, about $20 a day. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Roughly $140 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Plan a budget in advance. But also don't panic if you spend a lot in the first week--you're just settling in and learning what you need. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? |
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 known when the Edinburgh International Festival was starting so I could have booked a few extra days to enjoy that before leaving town. |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Academic or LinguistYou went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you! |
