New Zealand: The Experience of a Lifetime Past Review
By allegra.simone6 (Clemson University) - abroad from 02/07/2013 to 06/20/2013 with
The Education Abroad Network (TEAN): Dunedin - University of Otago
I could type for hours and not mention everything I learned from my abroad experience. I learned so much about different cultures, how different people live, new foods, and what a gorgeous country New Zealand is. New Zealand taught me to be more adventurous, outgoing, willing to try almost anything, and to look at everything with a positive attitude. Studying abroad here, with TEAN, was probably the best decision of my life. Definitely worthwhile, and I 100% recommend it!
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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. |
The grading was harsher than at home, but the grading system is different: a 50% is a C, and an 80% is an A! I worked hard, but also had plenty of time to travel every weekend-and miss a class here and there. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
We had a Resident Assistant in Dunedin to help us with anything we needed! There were also staff members in Wellington and Auckland, who were also there to help! |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The living arrangements were phenomenal-not for the physical state, but how the living was set up. We lived with other international students and a kiwi host, so not only were we able to learn lots about New Zealand and the culture there, we got to meet people from all over the world and learn about their cultures as well! |
| * Food: |
We mostly cooked for ourselves, but there were a lot of great restaurants in Dunedin-especially BYO's! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
New Zealand culture was just enough like American culture that it wasn't too much of a culture shock, but the kiwi's definitely do some things differently. It was fun to learn the kiwi slang and accent. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
TEAN had us get student insurance, so that healthcare was easily accessible through the school. I got sick abroad, and the healthcare services worked just like they would have if I were at home. |
| * Safety: |
New Zealand in general is probably the safest country in the world. I never felt any sort of danger there. People hitchhike everywhere without thinking twice, and the cops were also very helpful and friendly. |
| 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) |
Everything was definitely more expensive than I realized, so going out to eat was a special treat, but if you stick with the budget food it's definitely doable! Also the Dunedin farmers market was a great place to get fruit and vegetables! |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $70 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Always buy the budget brands! And on Saturdays, definitely check out the farmers market for cheap and delicious fruits and vegetables! |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
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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| 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? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I wish I had brought my hiking boots-I didn't realize I'd be gone almost every weekend living in the outdoors. Also, and more importantly, I wish I had known how cold it gets. I was definitely not prepared for the winter! |
