adventure, fun, friends, interesting, culture, maturity--no regrets! Past Review
By Luke P (Hospitality and Tourism Management, Grand Valley State University) - abroad from 02/06/2014 to 06/19/2014 with
The Education Abroad Network (TEAN): Dunedin - University of Otago
I gained a lot of maturity and how to become self-reliant in a lot of situations. I learned how to travel and set up trips and be productive. I learned about an entirely new culture and history and how to embrace it.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Courses in New Zealand were similar in difficulty with those compared to in the US. I took some upper-level courses, so of course they weren't entirely a breeze. But the professors I had and the structure of classes were to invaluable from a New Zealand perspective. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
My on-site program director Alice was incredible. She often followed up with me to see how things were going in New Zealand. She set up events for our group. She was very friendly and someone we could come to for anything. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I had a great living set-up. My flat was large with good amenities and a big room to myself. My Kiwi host was very helpful in getting acclimated with culture and university life. I am still very good friends with the three American girls I lived with, and we still keep in touch and have visits planned out. |
| * Food: |
I decided that I would be buying all my groceries and making my own food. Within walking distance of my flat there was a grocery store where I bought everything. The quality of food there was excellent. Try the Tim Tams! Occasionally the five of us that lived in my flat would make food together, or someone would make a meal for all of us and we would eat together. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt very welcome and accepted in the Kiwi culture. I quickly learned new phrases, customs, and ideas that they held, and applied them into my own life. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
The healthcare in was fantastic. Near the end of my time in New Zealand, unfortunately I broke my ankle. I initially was hoping it was just a sprain, so I went to the physiotherapy clinic, where they did a lot of testing on it, and then referred me to the hospital. Over the next several weeks, I got multiple x-rays, casts, hospital visits, and fracture clinic visits, and I didn't have to pay for any of it. They were incredibly helpful, professional, and knowledgeable. |
| * Safety: |
Safety seemed normal and fine in Dunedin. I never witnessed any violence or heard of much going wrong. The police force was very professional, and security was always present 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) |
groceries, travel, fun |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $125 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Keep track of how much money you are spending. Spend your money on priceless things you can't do in any other part of the world--hiking, bungee jumping, etc.--not necessarily eating food out. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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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? | More of a knowledge of the application process. History of the nation. |
