An Experience to Never Forget! Past Review
By Kate Leahy (University of Tulsa) - abroad from 01/02/2017 to 05/05/2017 with
IFSA: Galway - National University Ireland
I gained independence to live with people I didn't know and be responsible for everything I wanted to accomplish in the short five months.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The Psychology courses I took were intense, but the Archeology of Irish Castles was my favorite class. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The on-site administration was there for everything: when I got sick as well as bringing our American group of students together. The orientation was very important as well. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My apartment was fine, it had 3 double bedrooms with a living room and a small kitchen. |
| * Food: |
Irish soda bread and vegetable soup!!! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Living with Irish students was very helpful in integrating me with the local culture. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
If I were to do it all again, I would always chose IFSA. I was engaged with the IFSA staff and they were there for orientation into the country and settling us in housing and on campus with classes. Yet, I got to engage with the local Irish students as I lived with two and took all of my classes at the local university. |
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) |
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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? |
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 had known that I would be able to take two Irish culture classes because they were my favorite! |
