Dream Semester Come True Past Review
By Mackenzie A (Public Relations, Drake University) - abroad from 07/14/2014 to 11/23/2014 with
The Education Abroad Network (TEAN): Gold Coast - Griffith University
Choosing The Education Abroad Network's program at Griffith University in Gold Coast, Australia changed my life so much. From the first day of the program when I met staff members at the airport to the farewell dinner, I felt like I had found my second home. I was able to experience different cities up and down the east coast of the country and even go on a tour of Thailand over spring break. I made a second family with students in my program and local students that I will keep in contact with for the rest of my life. I was able to learn so much about myself and how others perceive the United States while getting to live just two blocks from the ocean! If you want to live your dream semester, Gold Coast is the city for you to do it in!
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. |
Going to classes in a different country really opened my eyes. Being able to see how other countries (not just my host country) saw the USA was very eye opening. If I ever had a problem with homework or a project, my professors were available to answer my questions. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Everyone from TEAN that I met in Australia was so knowledgeable about the country and went out of their ways to make me feel welcome, whether it was my advisor in my host city or a staff member in a city I visited. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The housing provided was a dream come true. Everything was provided and if there was something we needed or a problem, the housing staff was always willing to help. |
| * Food: |
Getting to be exposed to good seafood and different ways to cook everyday items was a great experience. Just during the orientation in Sydney I was able to try kangaroo, crocodile, and emu! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
People could tell right away that I was American but that didn't stop them from wanting to help me out as much as possible. If anything, people were more willing to show me around or help me out when I was lost. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I got sick while abroad and ended up having to go to the doctor and get prescriptions. While it was scary getting sick while abroad, my advisor in my city walked me through the healthcare procedures and was willing to help me out or just talk about the experience and aftermath anytime. |
| * Safety: |
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| 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) |
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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 known just how much going abroad was going to change my life for the better before I left so then I could have tried to experience even more. |
