So glad that I chose to study abroad with TEAN New Zealand! Past Review

By Erik D (Food Science, Food Technology, North Carolina State University / NC State) - abroad from 02/09/2015 to 06/28/2015 with

The Education Abroad Network (TEAN): Christchurch - University of Canterbury

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

My experience abroad made me discover my adventurous side for sure, but it also helped me appreciate learning so much more and it showed me how great learning can be and also that I'm learning with a purpose to be useful to society. These lessons are definitely worthwhile lessons and they're ones that I think are potentially unique in that they're best learned abroad.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program?	1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program	Great TEAN administration in New Zealand. They were all quite friendly, helpful, and enjoyable to talk to!
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	My housing in New Zealand at the University of Canterbury at the Ilam Apartments was even better than I would have ever expected. The apartments themselves were clean, modern, and spacious and I even had my own bedroom. However, I didn't spend much time alone in my room since I was lucky enough to have been paired up with some awesome roommates.
* Food:	There wasn't too much food on campus and I didn't have any meal plan; however, my apartment had a full kitchen and it was easy enough to cook for myself
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	I felt very integrated with the local culture as I lived with four kiwis in my apartment. I think that this aspect of my living arrangement made my whole experience that much more interesting and fun.
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?	I was rather impressed with the healthcare in New Zealand. During the semester one of my flat mates came down with an infection in his throat the health center at the University of Canterbury was able to take care of him to a point, but they ended up referring him to the Christchurch hospital. Even after an overnight stay and great care, he ended up with a final bill of about only thirty dollars
* Safety:	I almost always felt safe in Christchurch walking around by myself and even at night. You still want to be smart about going out by yourself at night, but it is a very safe place and people also typically have a pretty good relationship with the police in New Zealand.
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)	I lived pretty inexpensively during my time in Christchurch, NZ. I spent probably under $50 a week on average for groceries and other items. This will definitely differ quite a bit from person to person, but I think anyone could fairly easily live well on a student's budget with a little bit of effort. You do have to smart about purchases though since I think that food in New Zealand tends to be slightly more expensive than it does in the United States.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component?	No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Apartment
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Local Students
* Who did you take classes with? Select all that apply	Local Students Americans International Students
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?	The TEAN staff were friendly and fun, but they didn't act like TEAN staff, they acted like your friend. TEAN does a great job of making educational experiences so much fun I met some really cool people on this program
* What could be improved?	I can't think of any specific improvements and I'm confident that TEAN will make any improvements if any need for improvements should arise
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	I know now that I shouldn't have been so stressed or worried about leaving home for five months since I was in good hands with TEAN and I made plenty of new friends rather quickly. It all worked out fine and I had a really fantastic time during my time abroad.

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 Networker An active student leader, it was important for you to network abroad as well. Once overseas, you sought out student clubs, volunteered with local organizations, or attended community events. You encouraged your friends join you, and often considered how you could reflect your international experiences in a resume.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	CHCH 101
Course Department:
Instructor:	Billy O' Steen
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	What an excellent course to take during your study abroad experience! This course wasn't particularly challenging as far as course work goes; however, I think that it was one of the most beneficial courses that I could have taken while abroad since it encouraged me to really become more involved in my community abroad (Christchurch, NZ) and to think critically about how I could become more involved in my own community and how my studies can make a difference in the world. Plus, it was a really fun course too!
Credit Transfer Issues: