Despite a few hiccups, I would do it all again. Past Review

By A student (English and American Literatures, Middlebury College) - abroad from 09/23/2013 to 12/13/2013 with

University of East Anglia: Norwich - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

I learned that I could really hack it out on my own. Even though, as an American college student, you have a lot of independence, being abroad and completely alone is a whole new ball game. I wasn't quite sure that I could do it but after spending an entire semester there, shopping for my own groceries, cooking my own meals, planning trips, etc, I realized that I was capable of doing a lot of things and that they were easier than I thought they would be. I really enjoyed the experience overall and would definitely do it again.

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.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program	There was a lot of mis-communication about stipends, requirements from Home university, etc., but the study abroad office at UEA was otherwise helpful and addressed any issues as soon as they could.
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	The outward appearance of Norfolk Terrace left a lot to be desired but the single rooms were great--they were pretty big and the facilities in the flat worked.
* Food:	Students have to cook their own meals which isn't that much of a hassle because the city centre (where you can find sainsbury's, Morrison's, Iceland, etc) is about a 15-20 minute bus ride from the University. There are several restaurants in the city centre and also there are a few places on campus to buy food at a decent price.
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?
* Safety:	I felt very safe throughout my time in Norwich. There was one incident where two flatmates had some items stolen from their rooms but the police were prompt and devoted their time to finding the culprit and to making sure we all felt safe. Despite that, the city is pretty safe, even on club nights where things can get a bit rowdy. Police were always present in case anything happened but nothing ever did. There weren't any stories or reports about muggings, assaults, etc.
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)
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	30 pounds
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	I studied abroad with a friend and shared a lot of our grocery expenses which reduced the costs of groceries drastically. If you can, try to hook up with someone to share grocery expenses.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component?	No

Direct Enrollment/Exchange

* Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university?	Exchange

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Dorm
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Local Students Americans International Students
* Who did you take classes with? Select all that apply	Local Students
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?	3 classes per week Stipend The organized trips
* What could be improved?	Communication between the study abroad office, my home university and me The course registration process
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	I wish someone had told me to take advantage of the free time during the beginning of the program to take trips around Europe and also to plan/book those trips in advance.

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 Urbanite A 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:	19th Century American Writing
Course Department:	Humanities
Instructor:	Edward Clough
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	In this class, we covered a great deal of material about 19th century American writing. We read Hawthorne's Scarlet Letter to Fannie Fern's Ruth Hall. We also covered Thoreau and Melville among others. The class structure was the same as classes at my home university--discussion based with a few papers. There were supposed to be about 20 students in my class but about half of those people consistently missed class most days. Discussions were stilted and awkward because of that, I think. I wouldn't retake the class because it was the least enjoyable one in my course load but it is approved as a course that fills the requirement for English majors, so if you need the class, just do it. The class was a bit boring but that's the price if you want the credit.
Credit Transfer Issues:	No issues.