Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

opportunity of a lifetime Past Review

By (University of Massachusetts Amherst / UMass) - abroad from 06/02/2017 to 07/28/2017 with

CEA CAPA Education Abroad: Dublin, Ireland

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned to be much more independent. I now believe I deal with daily problems in a much better way. I learned how to adjust quickly to a new culture.

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.

My educational experience surpassed my expectations. I learned more about the city of Dublin than I imagined I would. I also got hands on experience interning at a publishing company. My internship provided me with experiences that I would not have gotten working back in the United States. The work culture in Dublin relies heavily on independence of the employee so I was given more responsibility than most interns would expect to get.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The administration of CAPA worked exceptionally hard to make sure all students were in a safe environment and getting as much out of the experience as possible.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I couldn't have asked for a better location to live in. We were a 15 minute walk from the city center. The kitchen was slightly small but manageable.

* Food:

We were constantly trying new restaurants and were rarely unsatisfied. Grocery shopping is also much cheaper than it is in the United States so we were able to save money during the week by not eating out.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

By the end of the 8 weeks I felt like part of the culture. Adjusting to living in a new city took some time and we definitely stood out as tourists at first. But, by the time I was ready to leave I felt confident that I could handle all social situations in this new environment.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I did not have any experience with healthcare in Dublin.

* Safety:

Of the entire two months I spent in Dublin I never felt unsafe. The citizens there were always extremely kind and friendly. I felt comfortable walking through the city even during late hours.

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

I would choose CAPA again because no other program would give me the same internship experience that I received here.

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)

I was spending around $200 a week on food and personal expenses. I focused a lot on traveling and seeing as much as possible while I was there. For example, attending sporting events, comedy shows, live music and weekend day tour trips.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 250
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? A suggestion I have for money-saving while abroad would be to utilize the grocery stores as much as possible. Although it is tempting to eat out on a daily basis while traveling that is most likely where you will spend the most money.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* 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?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The city itself
  • My internship placement
  • The people I met
* What could be improved?
  • housing appliances
  • communication between CAPA workers and students
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I packed half as much as I did.

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 Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.