Most Amazing Experience of my Life Past Review

By (Accounting/Information Systems, Drake University) - abroad from 02/09/2012 to 07/07/2012 with

The Education Abroad Network (TEAN): Wellington - Victoria University of Wellington

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
This program helped me to grow up a lot and be a lot more independent which I think a lot of American students don't always get from going to college like our parents did when they were our age. I also learned a lot about other cultures and learned to appreciate them from a different perspective. I couldn't have learned the things I did from reading any textbook, it just wouldn't have meant as much.

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.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

They were very helpful and made us all feel comfortable enough to come to them for help.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Could have been a little nicer.

* Food:

Pretty similar to the food here in America, which was nice.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I wish I could have gotten the chance to engage with more Kiwi's and feel more immersed with their culture than feel like an American on vacation.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I had no health issues so I would say it was fine

* Safety:

The fire alarms went off often in our housing and the fire department seemed to respond quick every time.

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)

Food was a lot more expensive than I would have imagined it to be, especially compared to back home.

* 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? I spent about $65 USD each week on food and alcohol was a bit expensive, I should have budgeted more for than since it's not as cheap as at home.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? it's a lot easier to go in with people on food rather than to cook for yourself every night

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • 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?
  • It was an adventure and we got to explore different places
  • I met many life-long friends
  • It was just an amazing experience
* What could be improved?
  • some sort of way to meet locals easier
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? That the place I was living at was going to be mostly Americans.