A Summer in London Past Review

By Margaret G (Communication, Sociology, Waynesburg College) for

CISabroad (Center for International Studies): Summer in London - University of Westminster

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

I wouldn't trade my study abroad experience for the world. I learned so much--not just from my classes, but from living on my own. I had to budget, cook for myself, make new friends and explore a new city. I grew up in a small town, and London was the first city in which I ever lived. Living in London made me fall in love with cities, and now I'm beginning a career in community development and urban planning.

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.	The workload was what I was expecting out of a summer abroad; it was enough work that I felt like I was learning but I I had plenty of time to explore on my own without worrying about school work.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program	There wasn't anyone from CIS in England, or at least they weren't made available, so I didn't really have any contact with them. However, the international student staff at the University of Westminster was quite helpful.
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	I always felt safe, definitely. It was also clean. What I didn't like, however, was that the kitchen on my floor didn't have adequate pots and pans. As I said earlier, my instructors purchased pots and pans for myself and my classmates. Furnival House was certainly further out from the heart of London than my friends' dormitory but we took the tube and buses frequently. We loved our quiet little neighborhood of Highgate Village.
* Food:	I ate a lot of Sainsburys ravioli- two for five pounds and each container lasted me two meals! Opportunities to dine out were great. I loved make mine for cheap lunches across from school.
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	The University of Westminster offered great opportunities to explore the city. I went on cheesy tours (the Beatles tour, Westminster tour, Jack the Ripper, Shakespeare, etc.) but they each offered the opportunity to see a new part of the city, or at least from a different perspective. I also loved the trips out of the country. It offered my parents some relief by knowing that I was with the school and not on my own.
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?
* Safety:	I felt very safe, even though I was in London during one of the deadliest summers of knife crime.
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	Dorm Hostel
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Americans International Students Other

A Look Back

* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	I think everyone could benefit from a summer in London. I had such a great experience, and I really learned a lot about myself through living in another country. People assume that because English is spoken in the UK that life there can't be much different. And they couldn't be more wrong. While I was thankful to not have a huge language barrier upon my arrival to London, I still had to adjust to a lot--especially looking to the right first before crossing the street! I think anyone could benefit from a summer in London. I made a lot of great friends, with whom I still keep in contact. I also broadened my worldview, and began to realize just how many people there are in this world.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	Photographing the City: London
Course Department:	Media, Arts and Design 2MSS404
Instructor:	Andy and Eileen; can't remember surnames
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	It was such a great way to see the city. We frequently ran over the scheduled time for class, but we were seeing the city so it was great. The professors were certainly well prepared and knowledgeable. I participated in class less, but that was due to classmates and not the instructors. This isn't exactly about the course, but my instructors were so helpful. Our kitchen in our dormitory didn't have any pots and pans, so they purchased a set with their own money to make sure we could eat properly. I really appreciated that.
Credit Transfer Issues:	I was only given 3.75 credits instead of 4, but it was enough to fulfill requirements in my major. Just check with your institution on the credit exchange before you leave.

Course Name/Rating:	Literary London
Course Department:	Liberal Arts, Sciences and Architecture 1LIB429
Instructor:	Juliet Rufford
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	I was frustrated by the course reading list, only because I wasn't given any advance notice until a few days before the course began. The instructor was understanding, but I don't like being unprepared. The instructor did require us to pay for a lot of mandatory field trips, for which I was not budgeting when I made the trip to London. Some were beneficial, and some were not.
Credit Transfer Issues:	I was only given 3.75 credits instead of 4, but it was enough to fulfill requirements in my major. Just check with your institution on the credit exchange before you leave.