New landscapes, people, experiences, lessons, and memories. Past Review
By Maire Klein (California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo) - abroad from 09/01/2018 to 12/19/2019 with
The Education Abroad Network (TEAN): Gold Coast - Bond University
I learned how to adapt to a new environment and challenged myself to be more extroverted and brave.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Bond's classes are the perfect difficultly level. The assignments always pertain perfectly to the coursework, and there isn't much "busy work". The small class sizes make for an intimate and enriched learning environment. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
TEAN's orientation was the best week of my life. It was the perfect way to integrate into Australia's culture and meet great people. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
100% satisfied. I lived on campus in the dorms, and they were so social and inviting, I did not want to move out! |
| * Food: |
Lakeside is the main dining option on campus. The menu changes every week, and offers options from around the world. It is DELICIOUS. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Bond's international culture allows students to meet people from all corners of the world. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Fortunately, I never sought out the health care options here as I didn't get sick or injured. |
| * Safety: |
Gold Coast feels very safe. On campus, there's always security around in case something feels amiss, but I never felt unsafe here. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
TEAN made this experience incredible by making students feel comfortable and offering so much support to ensure the best possible time here. |
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) |
Australia is quite expensive, but budgeting beforehand can prevent a lot of financial difficulty. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | n/a |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Keep track of your account and spend money on experiences, not material items! |
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? | I wish I knew how heartbroken I would feel when I had to leave. All the more reason to return though.. |
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. |
