Ireland: A whole hidden world of Fantasy Past Review
By Kujas U (Communication Design, Milwaukee institute of Art and Design) for
Burren College of Art: Ballyvaughan - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I feel that this experience would have been better taken at an earlier year--such as freshmen year. I feel that I've already absorbed so much of the world that I wasn't able to appreciate Ireland as much as my class mates that joined me. I felt more of my interest was in the pagans era of Ireland. I spent most of the trip reading folklore and studying celtic art, design, and the religion.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
|
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
This program was vague. It wanted to do too much, but didn't take the time to organize. This program was also too expansive and had too many open ends. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
We stayed in a cute comfortable neighborhood in Baullyvaughn. Me and my class mates all stayed in one house a mile away from the school. We had to do our own cooking and cleaning, but my classmates all worked as a well organized team. We even planned dinner nights. |
| * Food: |
Potatoes and pasta are very inexpensive. It helps knowing how to cook food over the stove. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
A lot of our field trips were tours around Ireland. Maybe to castles, to tree forts, small towns, and old cemeteries. What I liked most was visiting the Aryan Islands and learning step dancing. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
|
| * Safety: |
Walk on the right side of the road (which is opposite of the rules in the US) |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
|
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) |
|
Language
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
|
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Direct Enrollment |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Students who are interested in fantasy and supernatural stories would love Ireland. |
