Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

My Wonderful Welsh Adventure Past Review

By (Austin College) - abroad from 09/10/2012 to 12/22/2012 with

Central College Abroad: Bangor - Bangor University

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned to appreciate what I had at home. I also learned a great deal about the local British culture how much it differed from ours. I learned how to adequately live on my own, without all the amenities. I feel that this experience was one of the best learning experiences of my life and was very much worthwhile.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

For the program I give 5 stars to both the adviser Tecwyn and the Outdoor Pursuits Course. I am not a fan however of Bangor University. Now I say that because I prefer smaller institutions more student-professor interaction. I would not however discourage anyone from going based on that. It is overall a wonderful program.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Tecwyn is an amazing director and deserves everyone of these stars. He is helpful, friendly, and provides great support.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I would give it a full five, but there was no Wifi and only spotty Ethernet connections.

* Food:

I greatly enjoyed the local food options, from the grocery store bakery to the local restaurants.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt that separating us into different dorm buildings allowed us to integrate ourselves better. I felt a kinship with my flat and closer to the local culture.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I never had any personal experience with it but a person on my program did did not have the best experience, so I bases mine off theirs.

* Safety:

I honestly felt safe where ever I went in Bangor. I felt I could go out on my own with no fear of possible occurrences.

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)

As long as your willing to cook every now and again you should not have any problem on low budgets.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $80-$105 per week
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Cook for yourself, plan out meals in advance, cook large amounts of food and freeze it into signal portions for later consumption. Look for cheap options like food the grocery store makes and wait until the end of the day to get the food at its lowest price.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

For Welsh we were learned basic conversation tools to help integrate us into the community. The people of Wales speak both English and Welsh.

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? None
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Beginner
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? For Welsh none
How many hours per day did you use the language? 0
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Just pickup the basic conversation points like hello, goodbye, and others, the Welsh will appreciate you for doing so.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
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?
  • Outdoor Pursuits
  • Tecwyn
  • The ability to travel
* What could be improved?
  • Have students who are willing to integrate into themselves into their local environment not just stick together in American clicks.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wished I had brought more waterproof gear and that I had brought more clothes that dried quicker in such a wet climate. Basically I wished I had known how wet it was going to be.

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 Nearly Native or Trail Blazer
Craving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.'