"Studying abroad in London- memories for life" Past Review
By Anne B (HEALTH PROFESSIONS AND RELATED PROGRAMS., University of Southern Maine) for
Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance: Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I think the personal growth that I gained from my study abroad experience was the most worthwhile aspect. By studying abroad, I was opened to so many oppurtunites in dance that I didn't know even existed. Studying abroad encouraged me to push my growing edge as a academic student and as a dancer. I'm very grateful for the benefits that I have received from studying abroad.
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Intensive dance training conservatory at Laban with an emphasis on contemporary dance. Class structure is Monday-Thursday, which includes 4 full days of classes starting at 8:30am-4:00pm. Grading system differs from American schools, very few A's or B grades are given. C+ grades are the average for a A- or B+ grade in the states. Very qualified teachers. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
IFSA-Butler program is a very established program with a lot to offer. The program in London took us to various destinations throughout the country, which was very enriching. Most times were accessible and helpful when needed. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The location was in a very rich neighborhood in London and I felt safe most of the time there. The building itself was a 5 story home that was converted into single, double, and triple rooms. This one building housed over 30 American study abroad students, which far exceeded the number of students the house could hold. There was one kitchen for 30 students (only one sink to wish dishes). The rooms themselves were basic and somewhat run down. At one point, all of the bedrooms in the house were sprayed for bed bugs because one student showed an outbreak of bed bug bites. Further, the housing was located about an hour and a half away from my school. If I were to study abroad in this situation again, I would absoluetly would have preferred to live in the dorms that were located across the street from Laban, and also have the oppurtunity to live with other international students, since I only lived with American students who took advantage of study abroad as a vacation, where I was there to study seriously in a dance conservatory. |
| * Food: |
I cooked for myself most of the time or chose cheap to-go options. As a vegetarian, it wasn't difficult to meet my dietary needs. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Traveling to northern England and going on a "adventure weekend" was one of the highlights of my program overall. It was great to get out of London for a weekend and to experience life in a small English country town. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Lots of pick pocketing in London- have to be very careful on the public transportation systems, although I didn't encounter any theift myself. Don't travel alone if you can help it, especially at night. Try not to be a "loud American" because some people abroad may target you. Lots of pharmacies everywhere in case you need something. I never had to use my health care plan or see a doctor. |
| 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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Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | First of all, be prepared for the high costs of living in one of the most expensive cities in the world. London is very pricey- food, transportation, ect. so be ready to save up money! I worked three jobs over the summer before studying abroad and I chose to live as cheaply as possible- cooking my own food, looking for student discounts. You also have to be an independent student to be successful in this program. Coming from USM, I have gotten used to being very indepedent which helped me so much while studying abroad. You also have to be dedicated and committed to dance if you are going to Laban, the days are long but I was given so much in return for my hard work. Be ready to be flexible, not having access to the things you are used to at home, and remember to have fun! You will grow as a person if you are able to open to experiencing new and different things and it will be a blast! |
