Great experience for science/engineering student Past Review

By (Engineering Physics., University of Massachusetts Amherst) - abroad from 03/15/2014 to 03/23/2014 with

The GREEN Program: Iceland - Sustainability and Renewable Energy Abroad

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
My experience abroad was not only educational in learning about renewable energy, it was an experience in making lifelong friends, exploring a beautiful country, and breaking out of my comfort zone for amazing adventures

Review Photos

The GREEN Program: Iceland - Sustainability and Renewable Energy Abroad Photo

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

We had access to Reykjavik University professors and received lectures and mentorship from field experts in different areas of renewable energy.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The GREEN Program is welcomed in Iceland and has a place at the university. The Reykjavik University professors and staff understand the objectives of the program and tailor the lectures specifically for us students. They go appropriately into depth and are open to questions and discussions. The same things can be said for the professionals who give tours of renewable energy facilities outside of the University.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The living arrangements were comfortable and served as a great way to become close with the other group members.

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Having guides from South Iceland Adventure company was the perfect way to become immersed in Icelands culture and thus nature in such a short amount of time. It was nice to get individual attention from kind Icelanders as a way to learn more about the country in the days spent in Iceland.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I did not need any vaccines to go on the program.

* Safety:

I felt extremely safe on the program because of the attention and care of the program direction as well as the guides from South Iceland Adventure company

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Finances

* 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)

Necessary in-country expenses were included in the program fees.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 6,000 ISK

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Hotel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • Other
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
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?
  • Short-term program made it possible to study abroad as a physics major
  • Collaboration with South Iceland Adventure made it possible to experience Iceland in ways I hadn't imagined
  • Having a well-defined program like GREEN put me in touch with like-minded students from other Universities who I can learn from and keep as friends even after the program
* What could be improved?
  • A lot of time was spent on transportation. However it was nice to have that down-time and to drive through Iceand's terrain in Super Jeeps and in the bus getting to know my group mates
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew to prepare my immune system for the change in climate so that I'd be in better health!

Reasons For Studying Abroad

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The Avid Adventurer
The 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.