Anwick, Wish I coulda eaten! Past Review
By Sarah K (International Business., St. Cloud State University) for
St. Cloud State University: Alnwick - St. Cloud in England
It gave me a sense of independence and taught me that I could handle being away for a long time. I learned a lot about living in a small group and the kind of dynamics that can be created in a small group.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
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 |
It was hard to get maintenance work done in the castle. Wade tried really hard to find solutions, but ti wasn't always quick. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
We lived Alnwick Castle which was pretty cool. The neighborhood was awesome, but considering it was a castle, the living quarters left a lot to be desired as far as furniture and beds. The beds were ROCK hard. We had to bring sheets and towels and pillow cases. The castle guards were awesome! |
| * Food: |
I had problems having my food allergies accommodated. We didn't get square meals enough of the time, and bagged lunches were awful. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I loved the trip to London where I was able to take in a lot of night life. I also really enjoyed Edinburgh. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Health care was easily accessible. A taxi to the hospital clinic cost less than 5 pounds and anti-biotics were free from the clinic or 7 pounds from the pharmacy. Safety wasn't an issue. I was perfectly comfortable walking back from the pubs alone at night. |
| 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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | I spent about $4,00 overall, including a one week trip to Spain and a four day trip to Dublin. I spent quite a bit on food and clothes as I changed sizes while there and had problems getting food. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | I wish I would have prepared in advance for traveling. |
Language
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Fluent |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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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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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | You will do well if you are organized and independent. The best part is the weekend aaway from the Castle and the break week. |
