A small, yet perfect taste of the world. Past Review

By (Creative Writing., Seton Hall University) - abroad from 01/20/2014 to 05/09/2014 with

American College Dublin: Irish Language & Culture Program

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was definitely worthwhile. I loved living on my own, even though I lived with other study abroad students and international students. I loved the culture and the the city. I loved the energy on the weekends to go out and have fun. I loved visiting towns and places outside of Dublin. I enjoyed being in Ireland during holidays like St. Paddy's Day and watching the Six Nations Championship. I loved the people whom I lived with and the school, the people I've met who I'll never forget, and experience of being in a new country that I've always wanted to visit and will definitely visit again.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The courses were fulfilling in educating me in different areas of study and learning about the subject. I had less difficulty with most courses than others, but they were engaging and fun.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The administration of the program was well-organized and the coordinators had made plans for the Study Abroad students to get to know the school, the other full-time students, and the city. They were always available for help or questions about courses and any other issues.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Living in the heart of the city was probably the best thing about studying abroad. Having everything within walking distance was extremely useful and I got to see most of it just by walking to school every day. The housing accommodations were great too in that we lived with people from different parts of Europe, giving us many things to talk about and bond over.

* Food:

I really liked not knowing what was for dinner and that I was able to try different kinds of food. Some people from the house cooked for everyone on rare occasions and we tried papaya from Spain and pizza from Italy.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The culture was definitely a new experience for me, but it couldn't have been any better. I was introduced to a unique lifestlye and not to mention the currency as well. The city rarely ever went to sleep and the holidays were amazing. The weekend trips to the outer parts of Dublin such as Howth and Bray showed me the countryside and the area closer to the water. Other weekends we took longer trips to places like Galway and the Cliffs of Moher which were spectacular. The people were friendly and inviting, and the experience was amazing.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I didn't really get sick besides the normal cold, but that was due to the temperature change, and there were remedies available at pharmacy's. So, there wasn't any issue regarding health care. The house was cleaned daily and we were given the right amount of nutrients each day to stay healthy from the cold of Ireland.

* Safety:

Safety was the number one thing I was concerned about because I would be in a new city not knowing anyone, however it was not what I expected. The people were extremely friendly and helpful with things such as directions. It's impossible to have an opinion about a place you've never been before. It was helpful speaking the language, though sometimes the Irish accent confused a few words for me. But I learned that Ireland's safety is pretty much the same compared to other cities in the U.S., like New York City.

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)

I'd say that no matter where you go, you're going to be spending money, especially while traveling. Living abroad on a student's budget was hard at first, but after about a month I got the hang of it. I figured out what I should spend my money on and what could wait. I saved for long trips around Ireland and around Europe, and then for nights out.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $70-$100/week (dollars, not euros)
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? The advice I can offer about saving money is to go grocery shopping and keep food in your room and the community fridge, that way you don't spend money on lunch every day. Shopping is always a temptation, so don't go every weekend. It's better to save that money for experiences rather than material things.

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

  • Other
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
  • Other
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
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?
  • Friendliness
  • Organization
* What could be improved?
  • Availability of more courses
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I would have known to take more chances and not be so worried about the "what if's" but rather the "why not's".

Reasons For Studying Abroad

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The Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.