The best four months of my life Past Review
By Luke H (BFA Musical Theatre, Ithaca College) - abroad from 01/09/2012 to 04/30/2012 with
Ithaca College: London - Ithaca College London Center
I experienced so much culture that wasn't my own and gained an incredible appreciation for history and culture that I never would have from staying in America. It gave me a chance to be a part of a society that I came to fall in love with and made me realize how badly I want to go back and become as well rounded as possible. It widened my ability to appreciate art and especially good theatre which in turn improved my own performance and desire to further my abilities. IT WAS AMAZING!!!
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. |
It was amazing, I fell in love with the city and the international program did a lot to get us as connected with it as possible, as well as opportunities for travel |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The London Center staff is helpful, personable, kind, and organized. They helped make everything so much easier and more fun |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
While challenging, finding our own flat was so rewarding and it made me feel like I was part of the culture of the city and living like a real Londoner instead of being stuck in a dorm or something like that |
| * Food: |
It sounds cliche, but eating was maybe my favorite part of being abroad. I explored so many new kinds of cuisine and was able to cook a lot for myself and others in my flat which reinforced my love of cooking and food... |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt like the London way of life became so familiar and comfortable for me and I never wanted to leave. I truly think it's the best city in the world and wouldn't have traded my time there for anything. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
They were addressed plenty, I never really had to deal with it personally. |
| * Safety: |
We lived in a very safe neighborhood of central London, but I still felt safe pretty much everywhere in the city and the Tube made it so easy to travel around the city safely and easily that I never really had to worry about it. |
| 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) |
I spent a lot of money, but not too much compared to a lot of my classmates who did similar things that I did. The biggest money saver for me was cooking at home and bringing a lunch to class. |
| * Was housing included in your program cost? | No |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | No |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $400/week including rent |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Cook in your flat, negotiate when signing a contract with a landlord, stay in really cheap hostels, book flights in advance |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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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? | Bring more money than you think you would ever need because you want to take as many opportunities to travel and see theatre, museums, etc. and money is what gives you that opportunity. |
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. |
