Mesmerizing city, incredible academics, and perfect support system Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The courses were about equal in intensity to my classes at UW Madison with amazing content! The professors were engaging and intelligent. Especially for an study abroad student, it was so nice to have professors that were easy to talk to and brought such a positive attitude to the classroom. The campus and facilities were also incredible and gorgeous! I couldn't have asked for a better university, professors, courses, and advisers.

On-site administration of your program

My TEAN advisers were there for me every step of the way from help with registration, planning fun cultural excursions in the city, and giving me health guidance. They were responsive, easy to talk to, and down to earth! I couldn't have asked for a nicer team to support my trip.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I chose to find housing when I arrived in Sydney and got so incredibly lucky! I found a beautiful shared home to live in up the hill from Coogee Beach and only a 15 minute walk from campus. I had the most incredible experience living with 14 students from around the world who were studying abroad for the semester. My landlord became a close friend and showed us around Sydney all the time.

The food was a bit expensive, but manageable! I got used to small grocery shopping trips every other day which became a fun tradition. Every once in a while I ate out because the local Asian cuisines were incredible. All of the food was healthier than in America which was a nice change. Also, the coffee was to die for.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt I learned a lot about a typical day in Sydney through living there and chatting with locals. I wish I would have made more local friends, but everyone I met was very nice!

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Around week 9 of my semester (3 months after arriving in Australia), I started experiencing abnormal medical symptoms. Overnight I went from being able to read the board in class to not being able to read a single thing. After a few free visits to the campus optometrist, two weeks of poor vision, and addition symptoms (extreme dehydration, exhaustion, frequent urination, and weight loss) I finally decided it was time to call my TEAN adviser. She answered my call on the first try and was genuinely concerned and helpful in setting up my doctors appointment. She helped me research general practitioners that would be covered by insurance, were close to my house, and had good patient reviews. She checked in with me frequently to ensure I had an appointment scheduled and encouraged me to go to the hospital if I felt unsure of my condition. My adviser was the first person I told when I finally went to the doctor and was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. She was so caring and called/texted me almost every day during and after I got sent to the Emergency Department. I appreciate her endlessly for going above and beyond to be a support system for me away from home. She encouraged me to take ownership over my own health, helped me manage insurance, checked in on my recovery regularly, and made me feel comfortable enough that I didn't feel it was necessary to go back to the States. All in all the healthcare system was easier, faster, more genuine, and cheaper than in the states. My abroad insurance worked perfectly and saved me a lot of money. My doctors were incredibly helpful and responsive - I probably went to see them twice a week until I left the country. I honestly wish I could have my health care team and TEAN family back in the states.

I never felt unsafe in Sydney or on campus! It was the most beautiful city full of terrific people. It was so incredible to see the families let their little kids run around freely without being concerned about their safety. That being said, it is always a good idea to go out with friends and make sure you're aware of your surroundings!

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

I spent about $50-60 a month on food and saved a little extra for going out. I also set aside $10-15 for bus fare a month. On top of that, rent was a bit expensive and paid bi-weekly and I paid for my phone every few weeks.

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• Americans
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• The city
• The people I lived with
• My program advisers

• Integration with local students

The Avid Adventurer