Wales has all of the old charm of the UK in a modern area! Past Review

By A student (International Studies, Presbyterian College) - abroad from 01/22/2014 to 05/23/2014 with

University of Wales - Trinity Saint David: Carmarthen - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

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

I traveled a lot which I think was the most beneficial for me. I was scared to travel on my own when I first got there but started doing my own thing and ended up doing a lot of things by myself and I feel so much more confident in myself now for being able to do that and feel like I am a new, better version of me. I think experiences like that are worth everything in the world.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program?	0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.	I took both of the classes offered exclusively to international students which were both generally easy and very fun! I also took a psychology class which I very much enjoyed, but the assignments for that class were significantly harder than my other 2 classes and procrastination is not recommended.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program	The international office staff was wonderful! They were very approachable and knowledgeable and also a comfort when missing home.
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	I felt like my flat was my home. I loved most of the people I lived with and we all meshed well together. The rooms could have used a bit of cleaning and updating. Maintenance and cleaning staff will come if you contact them, but it can be a hassle. The walls and windows are paper thin so you can hear everything that is going on outside which wasn't the best when drunk people start shouting in the middle of the night.
* Food:	I think our group was the last to receive catered- accommodation. We got a meal plan that gave us breakfast and dinner on the week days during term times. The food was usually good with a good amount of choices, sometimes some of the food was a bit sketchy but overall it wasn't bad. Lots of root vegetables.
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	the school offers a bar scene all week, Wednesdays and weekends are the most busy. I didn't go out as often as some of my flat mates, who were mostly American and Canadian international students, so I didn't get a chance to meet many locals. All of my classes except one were only for international students so I didn't get a chance to meet many people outside of those classes either.
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?	Healthcare was available but I did not use it. Most minor illnesses I was able to get over the counter medicine for A massive stomach virus went through the town my last few days there and the international office staff as well as the international buddies were super helpful in helping all of the sick international students getting the help they needed.
* Safety:	I never felt in danger while walking around in town or on campus. It was a very safe friendly area to be in.
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)	There is a supermarket about a 15 minute walk from campus and I was easily able to buy food to get me through the week for a reasonable price.
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	$50 or less, generally less
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	Tesco is a good place to get cheap stuff. You can travel to Ireland and Paris from Pembroke or London for super cheap through Megabus or flying Ryanair is usually a great way to travel. A railcard is also wonderful if you plan on traveling a lot by train.

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 Americans International 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?	Easy to travel from Carmarthen Had American-like qualities that allowed the comforts of home It was very relaxed
* What could be improved?	better accommodation
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	I wish I knew that I could trade pounds for euros at the post office. Megabus is an amazing resource. Taking buses to places isn't as hard as it is in America. Travel early and do your work early. I didn't travel as much as I wish I had in the beginning of my trip. Don't be afraid to do things by yourself or you may miss out on some great opportunities.

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 Nearly Native or Trail Blazer Craving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.'

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	'Living in an Old Country': interpreting the Heritage of Wales
Course Department:
Instructor:	Conway Davies
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	This class was probably the best introduction to Wales that I could ask for. Conway was a wealth of knowledge and super friendly. He will teach you that basically everything comes from the Welsh and has a fun sense of humor that made the class worth going to. I learned so much about Wales in this class that I would have never learned in books. The class met twice a week for about an hour to two hours and at the end of term we had to identify pictures attributed to the history of Wales and write about their significance. We also had to write a 1500 word paper which we could write about 1 of 3 topic choices. I participated a lot more in this class than I expected myself to.
Credit Transfer Issues: