Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

England is one of the best places to hike and learn! Past Review

By (Kinesiology and Exercise Science., Brigham Young University) - abroad from 04/30/2013 to 06/20/2013 with

Brigham Young University: Traveling - British Literature & Landscape

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned the value and the way to write an personal essay about travel experiences and I learned to love British poetry. I also learned how to love the landscape in the face of the physical challenge of hiking. It was an amazing experience.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The courses and coursework were tailored to the time we spent abroad. There was enough time allowed to finish assignments and we regularly had class.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Most of the hostels we stayed in were clean and livable, but some were a little dirty and made me concerned about sanitary conditions.

* Food:

We bought and prepared food on a rotational basis. Overall, the food was good and fairly nutritious.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Since we were hiking most of the trip, we did not integrate much with the local people. We did integrate deeply with the locations we stayed at and we saw a lot of different perspectives of the country. At the end, I felt that I had explored a large portion of the country from the north to the south.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Overall, there was healthcare available. There were no major health concerns although most people in our group got a cold. There were pharmacies available to pick up cough drops and necessary medication.

* Safety:

Overall, the safety was pretty good. In London, it was important to stay in a group and to be aware of belongings. Although there were no incidents when I was on the program, it was important to be careful in this area because the risk was apparent.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Finances

* 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)

There were very few instances where we had to pay for more than the programs initial cost. We only had to pay for a few meals in the whole trip.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $50
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? If you want internet, it might be better to get a data plan for Europe. Purchasing WiFi access was very expensive and most of the time it was not reliable. It might be worth the investment.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Hostel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Hiking almost everyday
  • Learning about literature
  • Writing essays
* What could be improved?
  • More awareness about the limitations of the Internet and laundry facilities. Both were unrealiabe
  • Perhaps more careful planning of the food. In general it was good, but there could be some improvement in this area.
  • Maybe less time in London and more time in the countryside. London was a good experience, but I enjoyed seeing the countryside more and hiking more.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I had known how limited the Internet was going to be. It as very unreliable and it was expensive. I would recommend that students consider the value of bringing a computer. I would also have liked to know more about the money system and transportation.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

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The Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.