Cambridge: 'Cause I Had The Time Of My Life Past Review
By Alyson R (Elementary Education, Valparaiso University) for
Valparaiso University: Cambridge - Valparaiso University Study Center
I feel more independent and grateful for everything I saw and did. I made an amazing group of close friends and feel very close to our directors. I am more motivated than ever to continue with my plans of teaching in Spain in the future.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
It was great to have professors from the UK. We were able to learn different perspectives from them and it felt more like we were immersed in the culture when they taught us. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Our directors couldn't have been better. Our group got along really well, and we loved living in Cambridge. Studying abroad in our program was more than fufilled my expectations. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
It was a very safe area and our classroom was a part of our house. It was a close walk to the grocery store and everything we needed was provided. |
| * Food: |
We were responsible for cooking ourselves, so it was what we made of it. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Lake District, group outings around Cambridge, London on our very first group trip/our first weekend. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
It was very safe if you were aware of your surroundings. Even people who weren't as aware didn't seem to have any problems. I didn't have any experiences with the healthcare. |
| 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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | I probably spent between 80 and 120 pounds a week depending on how much we chose to go out or use cabs, etc. Also, taking trips on weekends also made that price jump way higher than 140 pounds per week. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Reservation fees for normal seats on the trains using the Eurail. Also, being charged for using the ATM was something not everyone was aware of. |
Language
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | United States |
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? | Go into it with an open mind; embrace as much as possible and make as many memories as you can. You only live once, and this lets you live more than some people do in 10 years. |
