The wizard of oz-tralia Past Review
By Sebastian Estores (Hospitality Management, California State University - Long Beach) - abroad from 09/02/2016 to 12/10/2016 with
The Education Abroad Network (TEAN): Sydney - International College of Management (ICMS)
I learned a lot about myself and definitely gained an immense amount of south worth. I feel more comfortable in my own skin and am more understanding of other cultures.
Review Photos
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 classes that I took here definitely encouraged a lot of critical thinking. There were far less assignments than back home and the expectations they had for them seemed to be at a much more professional level. While more difficult, I definitely believe I got a lot out of it and was challenged with reasonable expectations. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The people of ICMS were incredibly helpful and made everyone feel welcome incredibly quickly. The first week is filled with a bunch of activities that they invest a lot of money in to help everyone get acquainted and ease the stress that comes with being in a foreign land. Amy and Svenya were particularly hospitable and I can't thank them enough for all they did for everyone. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Dorms were clean and housekeeping comes every week to give you new sheets and comforters. This is an older building so not everything is super futuristic, but instead has a more rustic charm. For me personally this was just fine. TEAN gives you a survey beforehand so that they can try and get you a room with people of similar traits/interests (unless you prefer your own room). I was uncomfortable with the thought of having a roommate at first but got along great with mine, definitely adding to the experience. |
| * Food: |
This was the only downside of my time here. I stayed on campus and the meal plan, while very affordable, was very average at best. I have heard that the school is currently working on improving this and hope this taking effect right now. On the bright side you will never go hungry, and I do miss the cherry tomatoes that were available everyday. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
By the end of the trip I had no desire to leave what was my new home. I felt completely integrated and as though I could enjoy a life out there. I've worked in the food service industry in the CA for over 4 years now. In my opinion I think this same industry is a lot less stressful over in Australia. If you have the chance I say go for an internship or work here, it will make the whole experience even better. ICMS is very good at placing people in internships that relate to what they're interested in. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
During orientation time the admins explained how our health insurance worked. There are several places in the area that you can visit with relatively short notice (I once made an appointment 30 minutes before going in). I had to go to the doctors a few times and it wasn't too difficult. The local walk in clinic was about $60 upfront (that's US dollars, half of which is reimbursed through insurance). I don't have any insurance back home so I can't really compare it to here. All I can say is that it is relatively similar to urgent care in the states and that Australia is very strict about giving out prescriptions for anything that could have a potential to be abused. |
| * Safety: |
(This section is from a guy's perspective, coming from Long Beach, California) One of the highlights of living in Manly/Sydney was the incredible level of safety I felt during the whole experience. I have never felt so safe and at ease in any city in my life. The abroad students were old in the beginning to travel in groups in the beginning, which is a good idea as you're familiarizing yourself to the area. For me personally, I slept on several trains and made many treks during the late hours of the night without any issue. Anytime I was lost (which happened a lot) most people I would ask for help would go above and beyond to help me find my destination. Don't be stupid as you are in a new country, but remember this is a beach community in Australia. It's pretty easy going :) |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
11/10 |
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) |
Sydney is one of the top 5 most expensive cities in the world. There's definitely ways to save money by shopping smarter, traveling on Sundays, and buying things on sale. The meal plan the school offers is pretty cheap for the amount of meals you receive. However if you live off campus Aldi and Coles always have some affordable options. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Buy food that's on sale and look for off brands as they all offer a high standard of quality. Be careful in the beginning as that's when people tend to go a little crazy on spending. Consult with locals for different activities you want to do. Chances are that they'll know a way for you to save something. |
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 done more research about getting around and public transportation |
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 Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
HOS330 |
| Course Department: | Hospitality |
| Instructor: | Peita HIllman |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | This was Global WIne and Tourism. It sucks that it was on a Friday for me but still well worth it. You get to learn about wine (and tourism of course), visit some wineries, and usually drink a little in the tutorial section. Much more hands on and interactive than classes back here. The only downside is that this was Peita's last term teaching so I am not sure who the next professor will be. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
| Course Name/Rating: |
HOS200 |
| Course Department: | Hospitality |
| Instructor: | Nassima Kennedy |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | While different aspects of this class may be more difficult to different people, I found that the professor's passion and hands on teaching style made it possible to learn a lot in a short amount of time. The tutorial section of the class takes place in the student bar where you get to learn how to make cocktails! Participation occurred a lot more here than it would have at home. We were assessed through online quizzes, two practical assessments (at the student bar), and one 2000 word research paper. |
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