My Amazing Experience in Dunedin New Zealand Past Review
By Ashley Larose (University of New Hampshire) - abroad from 02/09/2018 to 06/21/2018 with
The Education Abroad Network (TEAN): Dunedin - University of Otago
While I was abroad, I learned a lot about myself and how to be more independent and grow as a person and a learner. It was absolutely worthwhile and I would do it again a million times. Who I became while I was abroad is so much closer to the person I want to be, and it was an experience I will never forget and cherish forever.
Review Photos
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. |
All of the classes I took taught me something new and provided a cultural take on some things. There were multiple libraries available that had different hours but were very easily accessible. Teachers were happy to answer questions and wanted you to understand the material. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I stayed with Uniflats and they were very helpful the whole time I was there. They were always friendly when I went in to talk and answered emails as quickly as possible. |
| * Food: |
We had to go grocery shopping and cook on our own but there were places on campus that provided food that you could purchase. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
North Dunedin is a very safe city and I never felt as though I was in danger. The same common sense rules apply as at home (don't walk down a dark ally in the middle of the night by yourself) but it felt like home fairly quickly. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
TEAN provided everything that we needed and more. They gave us a week long orientation that included dinners and events that got us involved with the culture, a TEAN staff member who stayed onsite with us through the whole semester, and they also had "coffee catch ups" where we could all go about once a month to be with everyone. The staff was always friendly and helpful before, during and after my semester abroad and readily available. New Zealand itself was also an amazing country with a great school system where I was able to learn and grow. |
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) |
Since you had to go grocery shopping on your own, it all depends on how much food you need to buy and how often you go out. I was easily able to keep my food costs low with the ability to go out once in a while, a trip to the beach via bus was fairly cheap, and there were many events held for free for students on a very tight budget. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | About $50 a week |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Thrift stores! You can find all kinds of great things at the many second hand shops located around the city. |
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 knew how much more I could've gotten out of my experience by being more outgoing to begin with. I've always been an introvert and it wasn't super easy to come out of my shell, but once I did, it made everything so much better. |
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 Avid AdventurerThe 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. |
