Can I Go Back Yet? The Best Five Months of My Life Past Review
By Jordan S (Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Rhode Island) - abroad from 02/09/2015 to 06/28/2015 with
The Education Abroad Network (TEAN): Gold Coast - Griffith University
I learned so much about myself as well as the new culture I was immersed in. A semester abroad pushes you outside your comfort zone and forces you to try new things you will not regret. The experiences and memories create friendships that could last a lifetime.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
This was easily the best semester of my life! |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The TEAN staff is all so friendly and helpful. Throughout the semester, they give you the opportunity to meet up with them for coffee breaks to chat about anything- the new culture, your new town, any problems you may be having. They want to help and make it the best semester you can have. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
We had awesome beach housing with extraordinary views of the coast line and the city. The apartment was situated in Broadbeach with easy access to the public transportation, grocery stores, restaurants, bars and the beach! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
TEAN provides opportunities to be directly immersed in the culture through meeting locals, new foods and being shown long held traditions. We were able to meet Aboriginals in the Gold Coast, experience the roar of a rugby game, and enjoy local music in Burleigh Heads. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $150 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Just budget your money and plan all the visits you want to take early on! |
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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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 that I took advantage of the city guides that previous TEAN Ambassadors created as to not miss anything in our town. I wish I would have known the reality of how fast a semester abroad goes by and to not waste any second of it! |
