Past Review
By laura.ackerson (Physical Therapy/Therapist., University of Hartford) for
IFSA: Auckland - University of Auckland
It was without a doubt one of the greatest things I have ever done.
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | University of Auckland |
| The term and year this program took place: | Spring 2009 |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The academics were good overall. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The apartments were decent but the staff of the building were rude and unhelpful. |
| * Food: |
We lived in a city and therefore had several options for locations to dine. My favorite place is called "Orbit" and is a rotating resturant at the top of the skytower. |
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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: |
Auckland is a generally safe city. I never felt uncomfortable or unsafe when walking. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | We had no meal plan so food was definitely an expense. Trying not to eat out often definitely helped to save money. Travelling was also a major expense, but staying in hostels or camping helped to keep the cost down. |
Other Program Information
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | If you love the outdoors and amazing landscapes this would definitely be the perfect program. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Pacific Music and Dance |
| Course Department: | Pacific 110 |
| Instructor: | Marjorie Boaza |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | This course was extremely fun. We learned dances from Samoa, Tonga, and the Cook Islands and music from Samoa, Tonga, Cook Islands, Papua New Guinea, and Fiji. It was an amazing cultural experience and easily my favorite class. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Introduction to Spoken Maori |
| Course Department: | Maori 103 |
| Instructor: | Hone Sadler |
| Instruction Language: | English and Maori |
| Comments: | This course was extremely, extremely difficult, but also a great experience. The class was held in the meeting house on the school's Marae and the professor was very friendly. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Beginners Spanish 1 |
| Course Department: | Spanish 104 |
| Instructor: | Omar Silverio-Anica |
| Instruction Language: | English and Spanish |
| Comments: | The course was a basic language course and was very similar to language courses in the states. The professor was knowledgeable and enthusiastic. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Pacific Languages and Worldviews |
| Course Department: | Pacific 105 |
| Instructor: | Melenaite Taumoefolau |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | The course was not the most interesting course but the professors were extremely helpful and wanted the class to pass. The tutor was great and was very useful. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
