Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

A Fantastic Glimpse Into a Culture of Chillness Past Review

By (University of Massachusetts Amherst / UMass) - abroad from 02/06/2019 to 06/20/2019 with

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

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
During my time in New Zealand, I feel as though I was able to integrate fully into the laid-back lifestyle of the Kiwi population. I spent much of my free time exploring the naturally beautiful landscapes that the country had to offer and taking full advantage of the hospitality that was easily found around every corner. TEAN made the entire administrative process extremely easy and they did an excellent job keeping me on track to make sure that I had no problem meeting the deadlines that were associated with getting abroad from my home university. I learned a great deal about myself and feel much more confident taking on new adventures independently after launching into this experience without the company of any friends from home. I will remember this time for the rest of my life and would not trade any aspect of it away.

Personal Information

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.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

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)

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* 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?
  • Transitional ease
  • The people I met through it
  • Helpful check-ins from staff members
* What could be improved?
  • I felt very satisfied with my experience
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I felt confident going into the program thanks to TEAN's extensive preparatory work at orientation and through online communication.

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.