The Most Fun You'll Have Learning about Literature Past Review

By (English, Brigham Young University - Idaho) for

Brigham Young University (BYU): Traveling - British Literary Tour

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I had never traveled internationally before, so it was great to just be able to experience different cultures. I saw so many beautiful places and met so many pleasant, wonderful people, and I'm homesick for Europe.

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.

Most of the actual school work is done either before or after the tour. Learning on the tour is accomplished through exploration, museums, and speaking with locals.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

A handful of BYU-I professors accompany the group of students on the tour. There are times where everyone will do something as a group, e.g., certain museums, but students are also allowed a lot of free time to see/learn things of their choosing.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The professors in charge try to get the best deals possible, which means staying in some pretty uncomfortable hotels. The beds are hard, and I never felt refreshed in the morning. The exception is the bed and breakfasts we stayed in while visiting Shakespeare's hometown of Stratford-Upon-Avon. Those rooms were so comfortable, and it made it the four best days of the trip because I actually felt rested.

* Food:

At the beginning of the trip, we were fed mostly bread and cheese. After a few days, we ate lots of authentic food, and we were able to use the money we saved by eating so much bread and cheese to go to a show of each students choosing in London. I went to The Phantom of the Opera in Her Majesty's Theater, which is where the musical was first performed.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I traveled with 40-50 other people, and we all became good friends and had a lot of fun together. It was also fun to meet locals and learn about the culture from them.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

There were a couple students who got sick on the trip. We were spending a lot of time on the bus, but they were treated the best they could be. I never felt like I was in danger. The professors tell you everything you need to do to be safe.

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)

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Other
  • Hostel
  • Hotel
* Who did you live with?

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  • Other

A Look Back

* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Take out a student loan if you need to. It's a pretty inexpensive program for everything you get to do, and it is completely worth it. Oh, and don't stress. You can find reasons to stress, but don't do it. Everything is super organized. All you have to do is have fun.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

British Literature-Victorian/Modern

Course Department: ENG 333
Instructor: Scott Samuelson
Instruction Language: English
Comments: The student chooses a novel from the class genre to read. Several poems must be read. A few essays/analyses concerning the reading and trip are also assigned. The teachers try to keep things simple because they want students to learn mostly through their exploration of Europe.
Credit Transfer Issues: No because it's done directly through the school.