Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Summer of Service 2016: WWOOF Ireland Past Review

By (Berea College) - abroad from 05/12/2016 to 07/14/2016 with

Ireland Study Abroad Reflections: Comprehensive Reviews of Past Programs

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned a lot about the agricultural system of Ireland, and about the culture and people who live on and work the land. The experience was definitely worthwhile.

Review Photos

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Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Both of my hosts knew I was there to learn, so they took the time to work with me and teach me about different plants, techniques, and management practices.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

I was not in contact with the WWOOF parent site. The way the program works you contact the farmers directly.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Both hosts provided safe, clean, and comfortable beds.

* Food:

Both host families were excellent cooks, and kept myself and other WWOOFers very well fed.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Living with families allowed me to integrate more than I would have had I been living on my own.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I didn't have any major health issues, though I did have an allergic reaction to a plant. My hosts were going to take me to the doctor, but the swelling went down and we decided against it.

* Safety:

I always felt safe traveling through Ireland. I went to several different cities and traveled on my own a lot, and I never felt threatened at all. If you are traveling in any major cities in Ireland, staying in the tourist areas is a very safe bet. Some places have higher crime rates, but as long as you stay in the main parts of town, or take transportation (don't walk) to the outskirts, you will be perfectly fine.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

I loved WWOOFing, and I loved the families that hosted me. I would happily go back to Ireland and work for them again.

Finances

* 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)

Doing a work exchange made it so the only expenses I had were transportation, personal items, and souvenirs. Because of this, I was able to live very cheaply.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $5-10, except when I was traveling or visiting other places, in which case it increased to $40-50
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? If you are looking at doing a summer abroad and working, consider a work exchange program like WWOOF. You do not get paid for your work (some farms pay minimally but not all), but your food and housing is covered for your stay.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
  • Hotel
  • Hostel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
  • Other
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Other
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?
  • Living with host families
  • Meeting WWOOFers from other countries
* What could be improved?
  • WWOOFer to host communication
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? That I would love the place and the people.

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 Adventurer
The 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.