Fantastic Place to Be, A Bit of a Mess, But Worth It All the Same Past Review

By (Brandeis University) - abroad from 01/04/2015 to 06/30/2015 with

Boston University: Auckland - Internship Program

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned a lot about the New Zealand Film Industry, since my internship was at Script-to-Screen (a fantastic nonprofit organization for people in the industry). While the Study abroad program was a bit everywhere, the people that I met through the program as well as the internship that they provided and the location I was studying abroad in were phantasmagorical and I loved them all. I wish I could say this program was better, but it's hard because there were a lot of issues with the program throughout my time in it that caused more stress and havoc than they should have. I would advise getting an internship study abroad, I would advise to go to New Zealand, advise to meet people as cool as the ones I met and cherish the moments you have there, but I am not sure if I could tell someone to choose this specific program.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Certain classes were good, like the ones that the University of Auckland provided. However, some of the course given by Boston University, including the internship program, were surprisingly different than I expected, especially after I already took a similar Boston University Study Abroad Internship Program the previous fall semester. I think the lack of organization within the program may have been the cause of the issues pertaining to the classes.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The people in the program mean well. All of your professors at the University of Auckland are fantastic. However, the people within the Boston University Program, while they are not bad people, do not have organization within their program and tend to react poorly to reasonable criticism or questions pertaining to they course and program.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

You are in a hotel, which is awesome and provides a free gym, and for the most part the staff means well, however, there seems to be an issue where the newer recruits staff the front desk with less experience than they should have before they staff the front desk. There is also poor internet coverage there.

* Food:

Go everywhere. There are fantastic cafes all around Auckland, such as Remedy Coffee, White Rabbit, Shaky Isles, Tartine, One 2 One, Freddy's, the list goes on. Going to places like Murder Burger or White Lady is awesome as well and you should definitely try to get out to Waiheke Island for some great Fish and Chips by the sea or to Devonport for cute little cafes around that seaside neighborhood (only a fifteen minute ferry ride!). Hell Pizza is spectacular and you should definitely check out both Mustache for your cookie and hot chocolate needs and Giappo's for your gelato needs (trust me when I say Giappo's is going to be some of the best gelato and service you'll ever have in your life!). There are also some pretty decently priced places adjacent to the Auckland Public Library near the University of Auckland. Number 1 Pancakes is fantastic and the dumpling place next to it has some of the best and cheapest dumplings in town. Icing on the Cake is also a great place for cupcakes (as well as Rocket Kitchen and Cake & Co.) and there's a great French-Asian bakery right on the street where Number 1 Pancakes is that is AWESOME. Just try everything while you're there.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

You take half of your classes at the University of Auckland in University of Auckland classes, so you can meet a lot of people while in class. You can also participate in clubs as well. You get to travel all over with the program, but I do recommend that you travel the South Island the first break. It's a fantastic place and it can get too cold if you don't go during the summer! Go to Queenstown, check out the glaciers, and go to the beautiful national parks! Also check out Wellington, Check out Hobbiton, and go to Northland on the north island. It's worth it, truly worth it.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

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)

The US dollar is stronger than the NZ dollar, so things are cheaper than they seem. If you pull in to by groceries together with your roommates (which you might want to do, you have a small kitchen space), then that makes it all the more cheaper.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

I didn't know there was a foreign language component to this program until I got there. You have to learn over a hundred words in Maori and are tested on it, then never use the words again in daily life. I would have been fine to learn the language a bit and not be tested on it, but that wasn't the case.

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

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Hotel
* 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
  • International Students
  • Other
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?
  • The people I've met through the program
  • The internship that I had during the program
  • New Zealand in general - it's a fantastic place to live
* What could be improved?
  • The overall organization of the program
  • Some changes in who teaches the classes that Boston University teaches during the program
  • Unfortunately, the place where students stay
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew how disorganized the people were in the program and some of the unfortunate consequences pertaining to that disorganization. It's a shame because I loved everything about this program besides most of the things dealing with Boston University.