Highlight of my Life Past Review
By Aleks T (Lehigh University) - abroad from 01/06/2015 to 04/25/2015 with
The Education Abroad Network (TEAN): Gold Coast - Bond University
I really learned to be an independent person during my time abroad. Living on a budget, planning your own trips, and being half way around the world really helps you grow as a person. I would do it all again in a heartbeat.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Bond Uni is great because many students that are there are studying abroad, so professors realize that students want to travel. The work load is manageable, which gives you plenty of time to explore! |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
TEAN was amazing! They were so helpful throughout the whole process. Most importantly for me, this included picking classes, getting your visa, and pick up/drop off from the airport. They made me feel very at ease going half way around the world. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived in beach housing and could not have asked for anything better. The location was amazing and really made me feel like I was living as an Australian. |
| * Food: |
Although I really really missed Chipotle, the food was great because there were a lot of comforts from home, but still a lot of new foods to try. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Living in beach housing really made me feel like I was part of the culture. It was so easy to go out to the beach or Surfer's Paradise for shopping and restaurants. I really started to feel like a local by the end of my trip. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Although I never had to use the local healthcare system, my roommate had a surfing accident where she had to get stitches. We all had student health insurance so it was very affordable for her. You can expect the same standards of care as in the US. |
| * Safety: |
I never felt unsafe on the Gold Coast. I never heard of any incidents during my time there and I think this also has to do with the fact that the Gold Coast is a major tourist destination, so it is relatively safe. |
| 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 were a little more expensive than I expected, but once I budgeted myself it was not too hard to keep track of my spending. Most of my money went to trips, which really enhanced by time abroad. |
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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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 saved more money so I could go on more trips! Also, I regret not going on the Fiji trip at the end of the semester that TEAN organized. |
