Getting lost and having fun doing it. Past Review
By Taylor H (English Language and Literature, Indiana University - Bloomington) - abroad from 06/03/2015 to 08/22/2015 with
IES Abroad: Dublin - Study Abroad With IES Abroad
I'm more outgoing and independent. I learned a lot academically, and made sure to pick up a lot of the local literature, but I also learned to take care of myself and make plans for my own adventures. I am more confident after this experience, too, and a much better storyteller!
Review Photos
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. |
It wasn't particularly difficult or straining, but it did help to immerse me in the culture and history of the country in a way that I thought was worthwhile. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Everyone at the center in Dublin was wonderful and a great help when I was planning a trip, looking for something to do, or even just hanging around. They were all friendly and sincerely had our best interests at heart. They wanted us to learn, but they also wanted us to have fun. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
They were ideally located, and they were clean. There was no issue with any of that. The lack of dishes and cooking utensils, however, made it a little bit rough for the first few days, and the wifi was less than ideal. |
| * Food: |
Very easy to find food that suited my diet, even on trips out with the program. I had no trouble with it. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt very much like I was experiencing Ireland and Dublin as a traveler, rather than a tourist. That wasn't always the case, especially not in the first week or so, but once I started getting used to my environment, it was a much more authentic experience. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
No incidents! We felt safe and well looked after, and I had no really dramatic concerns over my safety. |
| 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) |
I ended up spending much more money on this trip than I was prepared to. Food expired a little quicker than I expected, and weekend trips costed a fair amount of money. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Around $70-$80 for food; I'm not sure about other expenses. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Make your own food as often as possible! It may be easier to go out to eat, but those costs add up very quickly. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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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? | I wish I had known just how much I would enjoy it. I was nervous and even scared going in, and I was happy only having six weeks to study because it seemed like long enough, but I was definitely wrong about that. The program was just long enough to make me fall in love with the country, and now I've got to bide my time until I can go back and stay even longer. |
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 Avid AdventurerThe wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal. |
