Being an Adult is fun & scary Past Review
By Nora M (University of Connecticut) - abroad from 01/12/2015 to 05/15/2015 with
University College Dublin: Dublin - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
When I studied abroad it was the first time I felt like an adult. I loved the independence of having to figure everything out myself. I went completely alone, not knowing anyone from home who was going. I completely went outside my comfort zone and had to make a new group of friends, adjust to a completely new type of semester schedule, buy groceries for myself (yikes), and learn how to thrive on my own. I learned a lot about myself through this. I gained new friends from all over the world. I travelled to new countries with people I barely knew-cause why not-and got some great memories from it. I learned how to be patient and understanding when dealing with people who share different values and experiences than you. I also learned to appreciate the little things at home. Being in another country made me value my friends and family at home way more. It was a worthwhile experience but it was never easy. I struggled to adjust and often questioned "why did I do this." Being alone in a foreign country was scary, lonely at times, and I was apprehensive. But the experience motivated me to make new friends, try new things, and ultimately go outside my comfort zone. That, in itself, made the experience worth it.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I took four electives while studying abroad and got something from each course. I found my professors to be interested in teaching and in their respective subjects. There were a number of available resources and study spaces. The library itself was huge and offers a range of services. I would've like to have been recommended a tutor or academic help center. I'm sure there is something like this available but no one told me where. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
We had a great orientation that included presentations about services and information at the university. We got a ton of great information in the first week (maybe too much). It was almost an overload. Then, once the semester got underway, there was a lack of support. I didn't hear from administration again. A mid-semester check-in would've been nice. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived in on-campus apartments which were very nice. We had a great kitchen and living space. I found the facilities to be adequate. The laundry was lacking. There were often dryers that were broken. But there were close-by trash/recycling centers, and the location to classes was very nice. Wifi was also very strong and I never had an issue with it. |
| * Food: |
N/A |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
By the end of my trip I felt more integrated in the culture, but looking back, I wish I was more integrated. Unfortunately, most students I interacted with were American, like me. Most of the people living in my housing and most people in my classes were exchange students so I didn't get to interact with many Irish students, except for when I saw them once or twice a week in various clubs and activities I participated in. I generally felt like a tourist the whole time I was there. I got used to the money, the city, and general things but I never felt truly integrated. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
N/A |
| * Safety: |
Dublin is a very safe city and I felt comfortbale and protected the whole time. The university itself is very protected and has fences around the property as well as around the housing complexes. Security guards are constantly walking around residences at nights and on weekends. Your ID is the only way to get into your building or living area as well. One thing that was a little unsettling was, not having a phone plan, I couldn't reach emergency services even if I wanted to. There weren't too many pay phones around nearby in the case of an emergency. |
| 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) |
One thing Idefinitely recommend is coming with a strict budget and trying to stick to it as much as you can. Obviously you're gonna want to spend money on souvenirs, going out to eat, etc. But Try to save as much as possible during the week when you're just going to class etc that way youll have more spending money for fun things on weekend trips. I found Dublin to be relatively cheap. The euro had a good exchange rate while I was there, and groceries weren't too expensive. Transportation was a little expensive. The buses cost 2.60 a ride, and you needed them to get anywhere outside the university. The cost added up quite fast. Laundry was not provided by UCD and was about 5 euro each time. The gym however was included. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 250 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Keep track of everything you're spending money on and even try to plan. Give yourself a budget for food, transportation, etc and try to stick to it. Give yourself extra for trips and fun outings, and try to limit unnecessary spending during the week when you have class. Adhere to travel regulations on public transportation. If you are caught with an invalid ticket, for example, there can be steep fines! Splitting groceries with a rommate can also be cheap. Use on-campus amenities like the movie-theater, etc for entertainment. They often have cheap movies! Lastly, always ask if there is a student discount, for anything. Europe often has really great discounts for students. |
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 |
It was optional. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Beginner |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 3 years of high school french |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | read street signs, use it to order, and dont be afraid of sounding stupid. |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Exchange |
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? | Studying abroad IS NOT just a four-month vacation. It is not always a peachy time. It is hard! But it is also OK. You'll learn more that way. |
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 Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
