The best 6 weeks of my life! Past Review
By Alexa K (Marketing And International Business, Arizona State University) - abroad from 05/22/2013 to 07/07/2013 with
CEA CAPA Education Abroad: Sydney, Australia
This was my first time traveling abroad, which in itself is invaluable. I was given a challenging internship that greatly enhanced my skills and provided me with a global business perspective.
Review Photos
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. |
I completed a 6-credit internship, so I did not have any other courses. My internship was challenging, but I felt prepared and was given the resources I needed to succeed. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I did not have much interaction with on-site administration, but the interactions I did have were with friendly and competent staff members. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I was extremely impressed with our accommodations at the Meriton Serviced Apartments, which are fully furnished and cleaned weekly. There are typically 4 people to an apartment, but the rooms are spacious and comfortable. |
| * Food: |
Food was pretty expensive, but I found many delicious Indian restaurants and there was a reasonably-priced grocery store right next to the Meriton Apartments. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Living in Sydney was not as much of a culture shock as I'm sure other locations would have been. Australians generally tend to like Americans and are very friendly. There were some small cultural changes to adapt to, like walking on the left side of the road and not tipping for service. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I did not have any experience with healthcare during my time in Sydney. |
| * Safety: |
I felt very safe during my stay in Sydney. I was told to look out for pickpocketers, but never experienced them to be a problem. |
| 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 spent quite a lot of extra money on food and personal expenses every week. Things were more expensive in Sydney. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $200 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Going out for dinner/drinks often gets extremely expensive. If you are looking for cheap shopping and souvenirs, go to Paddys Market in China Town. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? | 0 |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I went on a summer program and my only regret is not choosing a semester program, because 6 weeks was a little short. |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Avid AdventurerThe wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal. |
