I fell in LOVE with the 'Gong Past Review
By Kelsey Young (University of Rhode Island) - abroad from 07/11/2018 to 11/17/2018 with
The Education Abroad Network (TEAN): Wollongong - University of Wollongong
My time abroad gave me the most memorable months of my life. I learned so many skills in independence, financial planning and travelling! I can now travel anywhere with confidence and excitement. I can walk into a room of strangers and have no issue introducing myself and joining a conversation. I now have friends across the planet! If you're on the fence about studying abroad- no matter where you're considering- do it! I am of course forever in favor of TEAN's program in Wollongong,
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Australian classes are so similar, yet so different from classes here in the U.S.! As I fell in love with the University of Wollongong's campus, TEAN made sure I was properly registered for classes, adjusting well to life in Aussie and made sure I was prepared for the first week! TEAN explained grading and expectations and how they differ from home, so I wasn't caught off guard. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
TEAN has staff at its participating cities to be your guide, check in when you need it, make sure you're set for the semester and just be a friendly face you can go to with anything. Jenn, Wollongong's TEAN staff member, very clearly cared for us and took us on various coffee and dessert dates to catch up! |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
TEAN took care of everything!! I lived in Kooloobong Village as Jenn recommended, and I loved it! It's a short walk to campus, I had my own room and I had a full kitchen, living room and bathroom to share with my 3 Australian suite mates. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The local culture feels like a vacation 24/7! People truly are so friendly "down unda'"! TEAN took us on several cultural experiences including touring the Opera House in Sydney, Scuba Diving on the Great Barrier Reef during orientation, learning to surf and going to a rugby game! |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I barely had to even think about healthcare. On the first day at University check-in my healthcare card was there with my name and ready for me to use if need be. |
| * Safety: |
I can honestly say I never felt unsafe during my explorations! Walkways to class, the bus, grocery stores, the train station and the beach are all well lit and usually provided sidewalks. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
Wollongong was the perfect location to travel and have access to the cities, while still enjoying a comfortable life during the schoolwork. TEAN provided several opportunities to visit other areas that were so accessible from Wollongong. Plus, the uni campus was beautiful. |
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) |
Living was easy if you budgeted and paid attention to your spending! During my semester, the exchange right was extremely helpful in keeping costs for me down. The local grocery store offered a preorder option, so there was no need to wander around aimlessly picking up anything and everything, and since I had a full kitchen, it was easy to cook at home. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | set a weekly alcohol budget. its so easy to get caught up in drinking legally and adding a glass of wine to dinner or a mimosa to brunch, but it adds up. |
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? | Pack light!! Everyone says it a million times, but here's why!! When I landed in Sydney, customs was in a separate building from where I was. I had to collect allll of my bags and lug them across the airport, onto a shuttle and through customs before I could get rid of them again. As for packing in general, you're not gonna wear anything you brought and you're not gonna bring anything you need. Accept it and pack light. PS- Australia does have "winter" so pack for 50-60's at first if going from July-Nov |
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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
