Incredible! Past Review
By A student (Middlebury College) - abroad from 02/13/2012 to 06/26/2012 with
The Education Abroad Network (TEAN): Sydney - University of Sydney
I learned interesting things about myself, growing as a person, put to the test in a foreign city with no dining hall - oh my! Of course it was worthwhile!
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | University of New South Wales |
| 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. |
Academically, the workload might not have been sincerely rigorous, but the true intensity was the abroad experience and the plethora of knowledge I gained from exploring Australian and a wildly different culture from my own. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
All the on-site administration was extremely helpful with any and all of my questions and needs. Allowing me to feel at ease throughout my stay. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The housing was beautiful! And the beauty was in the apartment, yes, but also because I happened to meet five new friends who I stayed with that will be life long friends. |
| * Food: |
Australians are incredibly healthy people and it was truly a breadth of fresh air to be removed from the fast food, overindulged American diet. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt extremely integrated, perhaps exceedingly helpful that we both spoke the same language and I happened to enjoy dressing like the locals who had a keen fashion sense. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Health care was fine. A bit confusing to be on my own for the first time when having to deal with health issues. But all my health needs were met. |
| * Safety: |
I felt wonderfully safe wherever I walked in the Sydney area. Crime is low and the place is simply marvelous. |
| 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) |
Sydney is extremely expensive!!! |
| * Was housing included in your program cost? | Yes |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | No |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 300 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | I would suggest finding work as minimum wage is high and Americans are particularly in demand for hiring in Australia. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
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| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Fluent |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Fluent |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 10+ |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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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? | Insanely Expensive! |
