Straya M8 Past Review
By Arden H (Drama, Theatre Arts, Trinity University) - abroad from 02/18/2015 to 07/03/2015 with
Flinders University: Adelaide - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I learned so much about myself while I was abroad, some of which I'd rather not get into. I made so many great friends while I was there and we're already making plans to visit each other around the world! If I could permanently move there, I would do it right now.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I feel like I learned everything that I wanted to learn there. I intentionally signed up for courses that would simultaneously count for common curriculum here and teach me about Australian culture there. It worked out well! |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Amazing! Sharna was great to have around! She was quite helpful, always fun to be around, and loved planning events that she knew we would enjoy! |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Loved living in a house with four Australians. I got to know more about the country that way and it was quite nice having a kitchen. |
| * Food: |
I made my own food! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
My housemates were very helpful in this aspect and I felt like I fit right in. The community at Flinders is pretty accepting, so unless you're a hermit, it's rather difficult to not become integrated into the culture. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I didn't really know what to do as far as health care goes. I also never got my insurance card for being abroad. They said they'd email when it showed up, but I never got that email, so when I hurt my ankle, I didn't really know what to do other than stay at home and ice it. |
| * Safety: |
Lovely |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* 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) |
Ugh. It was so incredibly difficult to find a job there. I never was able to get one, so I had to live off of the small refund I got from financial aid. It was difficult |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Far too much. Probably somewhere around $50-$100, depending on the week |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Keep searching for jobs, even if it seems impossible |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| 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? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | That it would end so quickly. Those six months flew by like six weeks and there are some weeks and weekends where I wish I had been more motivated to get out of bed and wander about the city. |
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 BlazerCraving 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.' |
