Second home Past Review
By MaryAnna K (Psychology and ASL, University of Rochester) - abroad from 01/06/2015 to 04/18/2015 with
IES Abroad: London Direct Enrollment – City St. George's, University of London
I was so blessed to study abroad in London for a semester. The experience challenged me as a person in a broad range of areas: socially, academically, and vocationally. Socially, I loved meeting new international friends outside the program in my student dorm, the local gospel choir, my sister's church, a London faith-based group, and just strangers I'd run into on the street and Tube! Academically, the classes were brilliant and allowed me to study subjects--such as art, architecture, and marketing-- that I didn't have the time to take back at my home university. Vocationally, my eyes were opened to the numerous homeless people living in London, and my interactions and conversations with them has deepened my desire to work with that demographic in the future. Overall, London became my second home and I'm so thankful for IES allowing me the privilege of studying abroad and growing as a person because of the places and people I knew there.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Some professors had a hard time keeping the attention of the room, but most were very engaging and the assignments were challenging and rewarding. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Always helpful and knowledgeable! |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Loved meeting all the international students in the dorm! Rooms were small, but didn't spend much time there anyway. |
| * Food: |
Entirely up to you how you wanted to spend your money! I loved all the international options |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Was blessed with fine health so I didn't need to contact any healthcare services. |
| * Safety: |
Stay aware of your surroundings and be smart when talking to strangers, walking alone, etc. I always felt in nearly every borough of London. |
| 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) |
Usually spent about 30 pounds for transportation per week, and then about 100 for food? |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | ~150? |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Give yourself a general amount of money you want to spend per week and stick to it |
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?
Select all that apply |
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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? | Be open to other people's worldviews |
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.' |
