London: Same Language, Different World Past Review

By Ben R (History And English, Providence College) for

Arcadia: London - Queen Mary University of London

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

Absolutely. Overall I learned to better appreciate other cultures in ways that I only thought I could in the US, it felt good to immerse myself in other people's countries. My future plans remain the same, though I do plan to travel more.

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.	Workload was very light compared to PC standards. Grading system was as expected, with only two grades per class on average, but fair, and the teachers have seemed to grade fairly. The one big difference I noticed was that each one of my classes was more discussion based than in the US, with one hour being devoted to lecture and another being devoted to a seminar, which I thought was very interesting-definitely helps to integrate students more. The more work you put into it, the more you'll get out of it
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program	They were always very helpful
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	Lived with a combination of British, American, and international students in a great flat with eight rooms, individual bathrooms, and a kitchen
* Food:	You have to pay extra for a meal plan, but it is not buffet style like in the US, which is a change. The extra cost led many students to not eat proper meals much of the time
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	Going to see all the sights, travelling, seeing lots of West End shows, playing basketball with other international students, it was all fantastic
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?
* Safety:	Pretty good, if you act smart about what you do you'll be fine
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)
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	You can never bring enough money, there's always room for more, you WILL need it. I was able to keep costs low, but it was very difficult

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Other Dorm
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Other
* Who did you take classes with? Select all that apply

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?	My classes New freedom New culture
* What could be improved?	Everything seemed great, I had a few problems with my roomates at some points, but that is bound to happen with 8 strangers living in one place, though having our own individual rooms definitely helped
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	So everything you can to get out and see your new country, learn about its history, get to know its culture. Dont be the dumb American that goes and parties every night and doesn't care about doing anything cultural; if you're planning on spending all your time at Clubbies: London/Paris/Amsterdam, etc., don't waste your time, stay at PC. Have fun, but realize this is an opportunity to grow and learn and do things you've never done before.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	Staging Modern Ireland
Course Department:	English and Theatre
Instructor:	Fintan Walsh
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	A fantastic class, great for English majors with an interest in theatre, or theatre majors. You get a lot of different looks at theatre and performance, with some fascinating works by a great teacher that really got a lot out of his students
Credit Transfer Issues:	Nope

Course Name/Rating:	Women and Gender in Medieval Islam
Course Department:	History
Instructor:	Youssif Rapaport
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	Fantastic class, even for those without a background in Islam. Overall it was a fantastic way to learn about some controversial issues in a religion that many in the US simply know nothing about, it was a truly eye opening course.
Credit Transfer Issues:	Nope

Course Name/Rating:	Writing the First World War
Course Department:	English
Instructor:	Nadia Atia
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	The course was fantastic, and gives new perspectives on a topic I previousl knew and cared little about. A fantastic course for English majors who would like to delve into other topics, such as history, psychology, sexuality, etc.
Credit Transfer Issues:	Nope