A Great Adventure Past Review

By (Biology/Environmental Science/ Psychology, Drake University) - abroad from 02/07/2014 to 06/19/2015 with

The Education Abroad Network (TEAN): Dunedin - University of Otago

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
My experience was definitely worth it. I had the most fun of any of my semesters in college so far. I learned how to be self-sufficient, how to plan trips, and found the person I wanted to be. I also got to learn about how to hike and all the planning that is involved with it. Furthermore, I got to learn about an interesting culture I knew very little about beforehand.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The academics were fantastic. It was a bit different than my home university in that most of the grade is based off of the end of the semester final. As long as you continue to keep up with the course each week though this was not a problem. Furthermore, the professors taught in an interdisciplinary way which was incredibly interesting. Guest lecturers were brought in to talk about specifics in the field.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

What was really helpful about TEAN was that they got housing and bedding figured out for you so you did not have to worry about finding a place to stay or bedding.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Although I was originally hoping to stay with a host family in order to really get to know people who lived in the country, I think the housing that I was in was great as well. It gave more of the college experience than staying with a "mom and dad" may have. I really enjoyed the housing arrangements because each house has 5 or 6 people living in it. These people can become your best friends. Furthermore, the houses in Dunedin are all located close to each other so it is extremely easy to meet 50 students who are studying abroad because you are all neighbors. Furthermore, another great aspect was that each house had a kiwi host who helped you initially get to know the area of Dunedin and even how the university there worked.

* Food:

I did all of my own cooking. Since you are staying in a house, you no longer have anyone else cooking for you. This was a fun learning experience. I loved that the food was so fresh and there is a farmers market a five minute walk away from campus each Saturday, which I loved. The local vendors are so welcoming and friendly. Make sure to try the meat pies! This was something I didn't try until the end of my stay and I regret it because they are so amazing there! (You also can't go wrong with the fresh fish or venison)

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I did feel integrated with the culture. I took a Maori class which really helped me to have a better understanding of the Maori culture. I wish I could have met a few more local New Zealanders though, as most of the people that I was able to meet and become friends with were from mainly the United States.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I never had to use the health care system.

* Safety:

I never felt unsafe, no matter the time of day or night. People even feel safe enough to hitchhike (although I would recommend doing this with a friend if you are going to do this).

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)

The New Zealand dollar is a bit stronger than the US dollar and the prices in general seemed to be a bit more expensive.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? It depended on the week but somewhere around $75 to $100
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Don't go out to eat frequently because you are able to make great things from home at a cheaper price. Check out Velvet Burger's 2 for 1 deal. It's great and it's a great way to make a friend.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Other
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
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?
  • Having friends before school started because of the amazing Auckland and Fiji adventures
  • Tips about what to bring and the many people who had already traveled to Dunedin and were happy to share tips about the experience
  • Having housing figured out. Uniflats matched people up nicely.
* What could be improved?
  • Having students review what classes they took for future students to get a better understanding of which classes might be a good fit for them
  • Having a transportation option for getting to the airport when leaving New Zealane
  • More TEAN adventures planned for the group around Dunedin to better stay in contact with each other
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Buy a cheap car at the beginning of the semester because then you can travel wherever and not have to worry about renting a car. It will pay off in the end! And at the end of the semester you can sell your car back and get a large sum, if not all of the money back that you spent to buy the car.

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 Adventurer
The 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.