London: Living and Loving It! Past Review

By (Theatre Arts, Rollins College) for

Rollins College: London - London Internship Program

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I would say so! I have had so many fun and interesting experiences and have met some great and interesting people that I probably would not have met unless I came here on an internship/study abroad program. I have made friends and contacts that I hope will last a lifetime.

Personal Information

If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: Queen Mary
How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

My ability to look beneath the surface of a film or a Shakespeare play text and to analyze it has increased. I know how the British education system works, and I do find myself liking it.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

They could sometimes be a little scatter-brained and unorganized, but they were willing to help us out whenever we had a problem. The homework we were given would sometimes seem irrelevant or would be confusing as well.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

it was a nice flat, but the tv would not work most of the time, and the washer would sometimes not drain out completely.

* Food:

I enjoy eating all kinds of food, and London is the perfect place to find a wide range of food places.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

Pedestrians don't have the right of way. Be careful when crossing the streets! Keep hand sanitizer with you at all times!

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? depending on what I wanted to eat between 20 and 50 pounds. If you want to save money for theatre or whatever, look for the bargains, like 3 for 5 pound dinners, or the decrease in price deals- those are always nice. Either shop at Sainsburys or Tesco. Those will be your cheapest places for most items.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Spend wisely. Don't splurge on items all the time. A definite expense I was not ready for was the amount of water I needed to buy every week, and the fact that the water was in in gallon jugs did make things a little odd for me at first. Bring a water bottle or two or buy them when you arrive.

Language

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? None
If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

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  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

A Look Back

* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Be open to new people, experiences, and possibilities. You will grow as a person in a study abroad experience, I guarantee it.