Awesome experience! June 05, 2023
By A student (Connecticut College) - abroad from 05/22/2023 to 05/30/2023 with
The GREEN Program: Iceland - Sustainability and Renewable Energy Abroad
This trip was an unforgettable experience! I went into it not knowing what to expect but left with great memories, knowledge, and a greater passion for the environment. I really enjoyed all of the activities that we did, especially the glacier hike, and absolutely loved getting to explore Iceland! The other students on the program were also a large component of what made this experience so special as we became friends over the course of the trip and it was great to be around people with similar interests. Our guides were awesome! They were both super friendly and knowledgeable and ensured that the trip went smoothly. I learned a lot in a short amount of time and felt that getting the opportunity to visit the power plants greatly helped to reinforce what we had learned in the classroom.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I enjoyed the classes at the university and thought the power plant tours helped to reinforce my learning. The capstone was also a great learning experience, and it was cool to see other students' creative solutions to climate change. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Our guides were fantastic, and the other staff we met at the university and guest houses were welcoming and supportive! |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Both guest houses where we stayed were very nice. We camped in tents for two nights, which wasn't the best experience and could have easily just been one night. |
| * Food: |
The food that we had at the guest houses was good! But it would have been nice to have had more traditional Icelandic cuisine and eat at a restaurant at least once. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
|
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
|
| * Safety: |
|
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I had a great time and would definitely go back to Iceland! |
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) |
|
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 50 |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? | 0 |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | It would have been nice to know that we were going to be camping for two nights since I thought it was only going to be one. We were told the itinerary for each day the night before at dinner, which I didn't mind, yet other people on the trip commented on the fact that it would have been nice to know the plan further ahead of time. |
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 Avid AdventurerThe 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. |
