TAKE ME BACK Past Review
By Kathryn Church (Western Washington University) - abroad from 07/11/2016 to 11/20/2016 with
The Education Abroad Network (TEAN): Brisbane - University of Queensland
It was the best experience of my life. I always knew I wanted to study abroad, but it was more than I expected. It allowed me to grow up and learn away from any familiarity. I had to learn how to save money and spend it wisely, how to learn from a new university with different expectations, how to ask for help, and how to handle any conflicts. I think it should be mandatory for everyone to study abroad while in college.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
University of Queensland was a difficult university, but the professors and classes offered were incredible. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
My Resident Advisor in Brisbane was very helpful with any questions I had and was a good friend to have as well. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I stayed within St Lucia, right across from the UQ campus in a beautiful apartment. |
| * Food: |
I didn't have one bad meal while in Australia. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
TEAN gave me a lot of opportunities to be immersed in the culture, which I took advantage of. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I did have to go to a physician once while abroad in St Lucia and it was easy and affordable and the health care was good. |
| * Safety: |
Not a moment once while abroad where I felt unsafe. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
TEAN was incredibly supportive and helpful throughout my entire study abroad experience. They gave me opportunities to meet other study abroad students, to involve myself in local culture, and to get closer with my study abroad friends in the same city. |
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) |
2. Well, Australia is more expensive but if you budget correctly and spend money on the right things and prioritize, you should have no problem with money. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $75-100. Not every week, but when things were going on or if we were visiting other cities, money was spent often. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | BUDGET BUDGET BUDGET. |
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? | The biggest issue I had studying abroad was with money. I wish there was more of a chance to learn how to properly budget or even opportunities to make some money (without having a regular job) throughout the semester. |
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. |
