Cultural Rewarding and Overall Inspirational Past Review
By Charis E. Dowell (Berea College) - abroad from 01/05/2016 to 05/17/2016 with
University of Galway: Direct Enrollment & Exchange
Learned how different other education structures are and was able to finally experience what it felt like to live in another country. And it was definitely worthwhile.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
We were given free health care at the University and the medication was fairly cheap. Although waiting to receive care took a while it was an overall good experience |
| * Safety: |
The biggest issue I had was that the cars do not always stop for pedestrians. |
| 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) |
The cost of living was more expensive and all of us who studied abroad in Ireland depended a lot on our own money to make the living comfortable. Although the college based it on what the host university provided, it was not completely accurate and it was difficult to take out loans when needed. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Minimum around $130 a week |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Save some of your own money to bring along so that you can travel. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
Encouraged other programs, but Irish people speak English. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Fluent |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Fluent |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | It is my native language |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 10+ |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Exchange |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| 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? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I wish I knew how much money you really lose by not opening an Irish bank account. I also wish I knew that I would not get as many credits as I assumed i would get before leaving. |
