Absolutely amazing!!!!!!! Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

We were constantly looking for how England, Wales, Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Scotland were being sustainable and how they weren't. We went to Swansea University in Wales and spent the entire day speaking with their sustainable team about sustainability on our campuses. We learned a lot about how we can implement more sustainability on our campus.

On-site administration of your program

Our program leader/professor and program assistant were more than excellent. I had such a great experience with the both of them throughout our whole trip. I learned a lot from them about studying abroad and sustainability. They were such a pleasure to have them as our leaders and I hope that I can become a program assistant some time very soon. I made two wonderful friends from this program and I wouldn't change anything about the leadership.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Every place we stayed was very nice, but the only thing I have to complain about was the amount of stairs I had to climb. Somehow I always got the top floor bedroom so it was a pain hauling my bags up all of the stairs. This complaint, for me, isn't really that major because I had such a good experience with our housing and the owners of our hotels and bed & breakfasts. I liked that we only stayed in two hostels because in the other places we weren't staying with young people, like we were in the hostels, and we only had one night in each of the hostels so it felt very rushed.

Food, everywhere, was excellent. I only had one meal that was slightly expensive that was terrible, but the place was recommended by our bus driver so we thought we owed him the courtesy to try the place out. I tried several new foods and definitely didn't starve. Too bad, UK and Ireland's food is expensive, but I don't really regret many meals I bought.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The integration into the many cultures we came in contact with was very different, but a pleasure to experience. Everyone I met was very courteous and lovely to me. I was treated very well as a tourist and educated on every culture's ways of life. They have a lot more history than us and different accents, but I didn't feel like a minority to the cultures. No complaints at all!

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

We were very well educated on health issues and prepared in case anything were to occur. I had a small rash, from an unknown source, break out but my program leader and assistant helped me out and made sure I took something for it. They kept an eye out for me in case it were to flare up, but luckily it was only a minor issue that we were all prepared for.

I never really felt unsafe. The other students, our program leader, and program assistant always made me feel safe at all times. We all kept an eye out for each other and I don't think anyone ever had a time when they felt scared for their lives. The cities are hectic, but the buddy system never fails!

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

I was able to live fairly well. The majority of my expenses were spent on food, but I would rather it be that way than starve. I would recommend buying bread and peanut butter to cut costs, but there's really few ways of cutting the cost of buying food. If you don't go crazy on souvenirs then you should be fine. I bought myself a few things and my immediate family members a little something, but I steered clear from finding my friends things because that would have really added up.

Select all that apply

• Hotel
• Hostel

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• Host Family
• Other

Select all that apply

• Local Students

• The people in the program
• Architecture
• Countryside beauty

• Longer program
• Staying in hostel/hotel/B&B for at least two nights.

The Outright Urbanite