The Best Two Months of My Life! February 14, 2022
By Elizabeth M (Indiana University - Bloomington) - abroad from 06/06/2021 to 07/24/2021 with
IES Abroad: London - UK Today Summer
I learned so much about myself! While I have traveled to Mexico and Canada, I have never been abroad - much less by myself! I was so incredibly nervous to go to an entire different continent without knowing a single person; yet I made life-long friends and had the trip of a lifetime.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
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 IES were truly the best. They were always there to help. During quarantine, I was having trouble getting some of my cards to work so I could order food online. I called a staff member to ask for help, and she immediately offered to go get me some food and drop it off at my door. They were the best! |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Great location and it was super close to a tube station! |
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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? |
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| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I would most definitely choose the same program. I loved exploring London, and loved exploring the English countryside just as much. The staff and instructors were amazing, and overall I just and the best time. |
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) |
Not very easily at all. If you can, I suggest you save save save. I was able to afford the program on scholarship money, so I really had to make tough choices about money while in London. I was fortunate enough to even go - but I ate endless amounts of pb&j so I could travel with my friends on the weekends! |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | It depends! It honestly depends on you and your spending habits. I chose to grocery shop and make food in my apartment so I could do more "experiences" - but traveling abroad looks different for everybody! |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Do your best to save beforehand. Plan for more than you think you will need. Prioritize what's important to you - wether it is traveling, trying new foods, or shopping, it will add up! And make sure you get a credit card with no foreign transaction fees. |
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'd like to reiterate that it is so important to save money! For those that are on a budget/getting little financial assistance: prioritize what you'd like to do and keep track of your spending. It is all worth it in the end! |
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.' |
