AMAZING Past Review
By Meaghan M (Indiana University - Bloomington) - abroad from 01/01/2012 to 05/19/2012 with
Arcadia: Galway - National University of Ireland, Galway
independence, how to cook, attempt at budgeting, adapting to different peoples lifestyles who are much different than mine, listening to hard accents
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I didn't like that there was no attendance grade or constant evaluations such as tests or quizzes. The entire semester was based off one exam at the end of the year. There was no incentive to go to class. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Very present with emails and trips. However, could have been more present leading up to the departure, they didn't send any info until 2 weeks before after 3 months in the dark.. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
No Wireless internet in the housing which was VERY difficult to get to know the other girls since we were always just in our own rooms on the computer. Loved that we were all in the same area though in Gort Na Coiribe, made it easy to get to friends and hang out with Irish kids |
| * Food: |
No food program, got to be the main expense of the semester |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Loved living with Irish kids, and going to different parts of ireland and the homestay |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
very present and helpful if something happend and we needed a doctor. |
| * Safety: |
Galway is a very safe place |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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) |
The exchange rate was hard and budgeting with food, travel, cabs, and drink. Also we had to buy a lot at the beginning like ethernet cords and sheets |
| * Was housing included in your program cost? | Yes |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | No |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 100 euro so about $150 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | don't bring money out to the bars, the drinks are too expensive and you WILL spend it even if you don't need a drink. Its too easy to get someone to buy you a drink so just count on that. Also make sure you shop at cheap food places like aldi that have the same products for cheaper |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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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? | 10+ |
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? | to save wayyyyyyy moer money |
