If I could go back, I would never leave. Past Review
By Sarah B (English Language and Literature, Indiana University - Bloomington) - abroad from 01/05/2015 to 04/17/2015 with
IES Abroad: London - Study London
From this experience, I was able to learn that I am capable of taking care of myself, being comfortable in a new environment, and to not be afraid to try new things. Many people say that England and America must be very similar, and while that is fairly true, there are still so many differences and unique experiences there. In London, there are so many different cultures, that it really opens your world view. My experience was definitely worth while, and I would recommend it to anyone.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
What made courses interesting was that professors scheduled "field trips" around London so that while we were learning, we were also able to get a sense of where everything was taking place and how it affected the people and buildings around us. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Everyone on-site was extremely friendly and helpful, and very involved in our study abroad program to make sure that we made the most of our time there. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Housing was small, but in London that's pretty typical. It was a very manageable space. |
| * Food: |
There was a mini cafe in our housing which was convenient, but had minimal food items, but there was a Tesco two blocks away and a Sainsbury down the street which was perfect for 3£ meals. It was always fun to find cheap restaurants around on Yelp, which helped us to go exploring the city more. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
It seemed easy to integrate with the local culture because everything was new and exciting. It was fun to go out and explore, try new things, and really get to know London. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I did not have any health issues while abroad, but I know a few people who did and IES was more than helpful in making sure that they regained their health. |
| * Safety: |
London felt very safe to me, just like it does here at home. London still has the same concerns like pickpocketing, but as long as you're aware of your belongings and surroundings then it's alright. In my program, a couple people got their phones stolen right outside our dorm, so it's always good to be extra careful with your belongings. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* 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) |
With London and the exchange rate of the pound, food and other expenses do add up quite quickly. But as a student it is manageable. Like I included before, many times I would eat 3£ meals from Tesco or Sainsbury for my lunch or whatnot and try not to eat out as much. I tried to spend less on my food so that I could use the rest of my money to go out and see a musical or plan a trip. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $300 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Try to set up a budget for yourself. It may be difficult and you may not always follow it, but having a general outline of what you want your costs to be will be helpful. I made sure to have my Chase App, so that I could always make sure I knew where I was financially. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| 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? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I wish I knew that time would fly insanely fast in that one short semester, and that every minute counts. |
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 Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
