Bagpipes, Hairy Cows, and More... Past Review
By Rachel K (Apparel Design, Technical Communication, University of Wisconsin - Stout) for
University of Wisconsin - River Falls: Dalkeith - Wisconsin in Scotland
I feel as if I am more independent and driven to do things on my own, not just in traveling, but in everyday things.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
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? |
We lived, studied, and slept all in the same place, the Dalkeith Palace. They gave us blankets and pillows; we brought our own sheets and towels, though we could pay for them to be provided for us. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
There were some field trips that were provided for us, such as an extended weekend trip down to London, where we toured the Parliament Building and Buckingham Palace. I enjoyed shopping at Harrods, and crossing Abbey Road. The Pope was in London at the same time and made it a real inconvenience by having some streets and traffic blocked, some sites unavailable for sightseeing, and causing major congestion with transportation. The following weekend was a trip to the Highlands. We went to Loch Ness (no sign of Nessie) and I went horseback riding. The ride was amazing and seeing the Scottish countryside from the saddle was breath taking. The program also provided a day trip to Glasgow for us. We also had a 10 day break on our own, so another girl and I went to Italy, which was fun, but it was go, go, go the entire time. We went to Pisa, Florence, Rome, and Pompeii. My absolute favorite experience was taking the train down to England to visit my cousin and his family over Thanksgiving weekend. They lived over by Cambridge, so we went there and walked around. He also took me to many other local sights, and the best part of that weekend was when he let me drive his car in true British style. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| 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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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | If you see something you like, look at the price tag and try to convert from Sterling to Dollars by doubling it. |
Language
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | You definitely need to have strong social skills and tolerance for others, and you will live in very close contact with everybody for 3 1/2 months. |
