It was nothing that I expected, but everything that I needed. Past Review
By A student (English Writing, Presbyterian College) - abroad from 01/04/2012 to 05/20/2012 with
University of Roehampton: London - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
The fact that I now know that I can negotiate life on my own (and in a city at that) makes this experience the most important and validating one of my life thus far.
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. |
Course topics were exciting; however professors were lukewarm at best. Some seemed relatively indifferent about the classes and others seemed relatively indifferent about the students. Overall, the educational environment wasn't so much engaging as it was reaffirming; I really like Presbyterian College. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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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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| * 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? | about $100 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | get a monthly oyster card and drink BEFORE going to the clubs! |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
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?
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? | I don't like winter weather as much as I thought (much more suited for Italy) |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
World Cinemas |
| Course Department: | Film |
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| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | I had a lot of expectations for university in London, as my school really did a great job preparing me for the experience; however, nothing they could have told me would have prepared me for the level of marginalizationI experienced as an American in my World Cinemas class. Supposed to be taught as an introduction to global film, the class showed movies from around the world and sought to analyze the cultural constructs of these films and the means at which countires tried to sell these films to a global market. Unfortunately the class agenda was really focused on taking films from around the world, and comparing them with films from America. "Why was this better than Hollywood?" or "See how they are trying to be more like Hollywood, here?" These questions were standard, and even more standardized was the use of the word "Hollywood" as a synonym for bad quality, in-authenticity, or cultural insignificance. Moreover, Hollywood became a representation of a greater identity–American culture–and as the only American in the class, my opinion was not only the minority, but it was the example, like the time I unashamedly noted that I had not enjoyed a film from Mali on the principle that I felt it was neither interesting nor objective: "Maybe it’s people who are apathetic to global issues…like Alex...that are the real cause of Africa’s issues." Utilizing an hour of class for the purpose of marginalizing me with a stereotyped group of Americans, the professor, hammered me with questions on why I had not enjoyed the film, essentially interrogatingme about my political views while using the front of “pushing” me. He wasn’t “pushing”me, but rather, he was trying to make an example out of me. He wanted me to say that I didn’t care about the issues of Africa, that I as an American took no responsibility for the world’s issues; he had done the same thing to a friend of mine in a previous class (she was from Hawai’i). I wish I could say that this class was enriching in some way, but it honestly was the most deplorable academic experience of my life. Every other class was brilliant, but this one was a downer for sure. Who would’ve thought that an ocean apart I could’ve been so tethered to America? |
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