Greatest Semester ever Past Review
By Katherine Lasdin (University of Maine - Orono) - abroad from 02/04/2017 to 06/17/2017 with
ISA Study Abroad in Townsville, Australia
This semester/trip was absolutely worth while. I am so grateful for everything I got to learn and see. I really strengthened friendships and created memories that I will have forever. While abroad, you learn a lot about yourself. I learned that i am much stronger than I thought I was. I also learned that the small stuff does not matter. Family means everything. I got an internship while abroad and I learned so much from the internship too (not just about what I was working with, but with people/culture/history of AU too).
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I have never liked my university classes so much! I was doing hands on research that interested me. I went to a research base where only scientists/academic programs are allowed to go to! I got to work/learn from professors that are so dedicated. Adapting to the Australian way of teaching is slightly difficult. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
My on site administrator at James Cook was incredible! She was always there to lend a helping hand or give a advice/hug when you missed home! She really made me feel comfortable being in a different country. I could not say a bad thing about her. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Housing was okay! I stayed in an apartment style which was super nice! I had my own room and shared a common area and bathroom with two roomates. I really enjoyed not being in a dorm setting. It allowed me time to decompress or have a super quiet area to do homework when I needed it. I decided to live in George Roberts (apartments) and pay the extra money because there was AirCon (AC) andwas a little disappointed when all the dorms ended up having AC. |
| * Food: |
Food was not great, especially in my dining hall, but other halls were slightly better. Food always consisted of curry with either rice/potatoes. There were always a few options, but hard for people with lactose allergies. Food at the beginning of the semester was great, but we repeatedly had raw meats. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Getting integrated was actually pretty hard. Australians are super nice, but it was hard to make a lot of friends with them knowing you were there for only 1 semester. There is sport options, where a lot of my friends met people, but unfortunately, they did not interest me. It really depends on who you ask. I made friends with a lot of Americans/other internationals... but I know plenty of Americans who have very close Australian friends now. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Health care was decent! I went to the doctor twice, and insurance covered one visit (second was a dive medical). The only thing insurance didnt help with was medications I was already on in the US and needed refills for in AU (pre-existing condition). |
| * Safety: |
Learn the safety issues in your area. During the day in town and anytime on campus I felt safe. Some places at night in Townsville are not safe at night. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I really hope to return to JCU - Townsville for grad school |
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) |
I did not set up a formal budget. But I did spend more than I wanted to. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Actually make a budget of how much you want to spend on food/drink per week/month. |
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 knew that I truly would spend as much money as I did. I also wish I made the effort to become closer friends with the international students. |
