Scotland: The rainy, beatifully green country. I hope to return! Past Review

By (Animal Sciences., University of Arkansas - Fayetteville) for

Adelante: Edinburgh - Observation Assignments in Scotland

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned a lot about Scotland's culture. They have a different relaxed view about life. I feel I can travel more now and not be afraid of being lost or not understanding customs.

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.

The teachers at the Royal School of Veterinary Studies were very informative and great at explaining difficult material.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The program was very helpful. Everything was set up for me and explained very well.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I felt safe where I lived. The flat was nice and the landlady was wonderful. They main problems we had was the dryer didn't work. Another problem was my internet connection didn't work. Other than those two things, the flat was good, and I would probably stay there, again. It was located very nicely in downtown Scotland.

* Food:

I enjoyed cooking at home and going out to try new foods at pubs and restaurants.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I loved learning about the different food and customs they had. Their dancing was very interesting and their phrases were different than ours.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

I never felt unsafe. Healthcare wasn't difficult, but it was a little expensive, since I wasn't a citizen of Scotland.

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? I spent around $100 a week probably on food.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Always go with more money than you think you'll need. The exchange rate is awful, so you need more than you think you will need.

Language

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? None

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

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  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

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  • Americans
* 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? They set up almost everything for you, so just be responsible and have all forms in on time to help make things go smoothly.