An unforgetable and priceless experience Past Review
By Perla (University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill) - abroad from 06/08/2016 to 07/23/2016 with
IES Abroad: Dublin - Study Abroad With IES Abroad
I learned to be more outgoing and I became more independent. Before going on this trip, I had never been on my own before. It was hard at first, but after a while there was a sense of freedom. I was no longer waiting for others to join me on my adventures, because I was okay just doing it on my own. I was not restricted to someone else's schedule and I did not have to compromise about the destination.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The staff at the IES center were always really helpful. They were always happy to suggest restaurants or cities to visit in Ireland. I also had a great time during the field trips and activities they planned for the students. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My only issue was the fact that our refrigerator was not working throughout my whole stay. However, there was nothing that IES did wrong. The apartments have their own landlord and it's the landlord that deals with these kinds of issues. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Dublin is an amazing city where you will find a really diverse bunch of people. They are also extremely friendly and I made so many new friends. I also felt completely at home and I met so many native Spanish speakers. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I actually did not have to use my insurance while I was abroad, but in case I were to use it, the staff was more than happy to help me figure out how to fill out paper work and which doctor to go see. |
| * Safety: |
I always felt safe walking around the city on my own, even when I walked "home" at night. However, it is always a smart choice, no matter in what city you are in, to walk with a group of people when you go back to your place after a night at a pub. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
The IES staff was amazing and they were always encouraging us to go experience Ireland and to explore as much as we could. The professors added field trips to their itineraries and that really added to the experience. The staff is caring and they genuinely love what they do. |
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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $60 on food |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | If you are going to cook regularly and would like to cut costs, I suggest that you go halfsies with your roommates. Organize a meal and split it between every one in the apartment. |
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? | That i would wear the same 3-4 outfits while in Ireland. Even though I had already packed light for this trip, I could of gone lighter. There were clothes that I didn't even touch. DO NOT bring your straightener or curling iron, they take up too much space and mine didn't work even though i used it with a converter. I asked the center if they had one I could borrow and they 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 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.' |
