Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

The Global City Experience in Sydney, Australia Past Review

By (Law and Society, Hood College) - abroad from 08/28/2013 to 11/29/2013 with

CEA CAPA Education Abroad: Sydney, Australia

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Everything I did in Sydney was 100% worthwhile. I loved everything I got to experience, from traveling to the outback and New Zealand to surfing to just hanging out in a pub with some Sydneysiders. I learned so much about who I am and that I am able to have my own adventures and you never know where that adventure will take you. I also discovered I have a passion for travel and global issues and that is something I want to pursue as a career.

Review Photos

CEA CAPA Education Abroad: Sydney, Australia Photo CEA CAPA Education Abroad: Sydney, Australia Photo CEA CAPA Education Abroad: Sydney, Australia Photo CEA CAPA Education Abroad: Sydney, Australia Photo CEA CAPA Education Abroad: Sydney, Australia Photo

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.

Learned a lot about the city and country I was studying in (Sydney, Australia) with plenty of time to actually explore and enjoy the city.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I loved living in my Meriton Apartment. It was great bonding to live with the other CAPA students and the location was excellent- everything was easily accessible.

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Interning while in Sydney definitely helped me integrate with the local culture. My coworkers took it upon themselves to introduce me to the real Sydney, organizing group dinners at popular restaurants and inviting me out to the pub after a long day. I felt so welcomed and included and got to see a Sydney many tourists or even just typical students don't get to experience.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I was incredibly lucky and did not get sick while abroad, but I did have to go see a chiropractor and get adjusted because I was in too much pain to function otherwise. I found the place in my own, but had no real problems dealing with the healthcare or insurance. It can be difficult because you had to pay out of pocket first and wait to get reimbursed until you got home, and some services could be expensive.

* Safety:

I never felt lost or in danger! While I would never suggest traveling alone at night, during the day I had no problem going out and exploring on my own in the city.

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)

Living in a global city on a budget is difficult, especially when you are making no income whatsoever. How much you spend is up to how you decide to spend your time, however you will be spending a lot of money. It's just a fact of living in a city and studying abroad.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Difficult to say, it really depended on the week. I'd say somewhere between $60-$100.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? I packed my lunch for class/interning days and I went without buying coffee from a shop for the entire program, unless I had a really hard day at work. Forgoing eating out everyday helped save money for travel expenses.

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?
  • Traveling! I got to accomplish my life long dream of seeing New Zealand.
  • Unique Aussie study abroad experiences, like surf camp and going to wildlife preserves.
  • My internship. I interned at the HIV/AIDS Legal Centre and they impacted my life in such amazing ways.
* What could be improved?
  • More opportunities to interact with natives.
  • Research for assignments was difficult because the school library often did not fit our needs.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Their is an internship class and you will have assignments. Somehow I missed this information and I was not the only one. Also, as far as packing, skip the space saving vacuum bags and just roll all your clothes. It's way more efficient.

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.