Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

An Opportunity of a Lifetime Past Review

By (Theatre, Stephen F. Austin State University) - abroad from 06/08/2014 to 06/25/2014 with

Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA): Traveling - SFA Theatre in Ireland

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I absolutely fell in love with Ireland. Their history and culture is so rich and they are so proud of their heritage. The island itself is a magical place, you can see the inspiration that struck the famous Irish writers all around you. It is a place that is still establishing itself, the Republic of Ireland is still figuring out who it is and what it's about, and I loved it because I feel that way too. There's a sense of building the country that you don't get in the US that is just amazing.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I think that the courseload both prior to and after the conclusion of the trip was a little more rigorous than necessary. A ten page essay and a five page essay for two weeks of class and two weeks of time abroad seemed excessive.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Where we stayed in both Dublin and Galway were lovely places. The Trinity University staff were always available and ready to help (especially when the hot water went out!).

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

I gained weight pigging out in Ireland. Places that were hecka awesome to eat at include Gourmet Burger Kitchen, the Brazenhead, and Lemon.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

It was simple enough but even though generally everyone spoke English, their accent and our accent sometimes led to confusion or misunderstanding in communication. Being there at the start of the World Cup was so cool.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

Dublin was as safe as any large city. We used the buddy system and always paid attention to our surroundings so nothing untoward happened but I would not want to walk around that city by myself. Galway was much safer, I still did not go anywhere alone.

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

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)

Everything is more expensive in Ireland, because they are on the Euro. We were recommended to bring 800 dollars, and that MIGHT have been enough to cover food expenses alone if you did not treat yourself often, but I took 1200 and did some light shopping and still was a little tight on money. SAVE UP AS MUCH AS YOU CAN.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 600 dollars.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Start saving here and there as soon as you start thinking about going. Even if it's a year in advance. Also suggest to your family and friends that if they want souvenirs they ought to contribute to your spending fund, as food and drink is very expensive.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
  • Other
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Seeing Irish Theatre
  • Aran Islands
  • Coole Park/Yeats Tower
* What could be improved?
  • Less days in the Dublin
  • More tours of historical sites
  • More plays
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Most camera battery chargers are not compatible with international power adapters. Check and see if yours says US only, and find an alternative if it is available! I had to rely on my phone for pictures much more heavily than I wanted to.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

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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.