Awe striking Past Review

By (Wartburg College) - abroad from 08/26/2017 to 11/19/2017 with

Wartburg College Diers Program: Adelaide - Community Service at Lutheran Community Care

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned work experience such as working with people from diverse backgrounds. Cultural sensitivity is a necessity for future social workers.

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.

Most direct educational experience came from online classes through Warburg. At times, 7 hour work days in addition to homework and spending time absorbing the culture became overwhelming. However, all assignments were relevant and proved to be helpful in understanding different aspects of culture and social services.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Helene was always very helpful and was extremely welcoming. She was quick to welcome us into her home and touch base about our experiences.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Adelaide Lutheran College provided Emma and me with our own rooms. Additionally, it was very nice to live with other college students. Living in a dorm setting helped my study abroad experience to be able to meet fellow students and build friendships.

* Food:

The food was fine. It was nice that meals were provided with our living arrangements. This was helpful in saving money.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt as though I was able to become very integrated into the local culture. Working an internship and living with Australian college students helped me to feel as though I was learning and becoming immersed in Australian culture. However, I think three months time is limiting to how immersed and integrated I was able to become. Had I been abroad for three months, I am sure I would feel as though I had learned so much more.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I did have a case of pink eye while visiting Alice Springs. My field advisor in Alice Springs helped me find medical care through the local boarding school. The medical care was free yet was not as structured as what I would have received had I been at Wartburg.

* Safety:

There was never a tie I felt unsafe in my time abroad. It helped that I was usually with Emma. Rule of thumb is that walking with someone else is always safer than walking alone.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

I really enjoyed my time in Adelaide working my internship. I feel as though I learned valuable information while also meeting incredible people. I know that if I were able to stay longer or go back, I would learn so much more.

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)

Budgeting was not incredibly challenging as room and board were paid for in advance. Had I needed to budget monthly for food, I would have had a harder time balancing living costs.

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

  • Local Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Other
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?
  • Working
  • Meeting new people
  • Living arrangement
* What could be improved?
  • Course work load
  • Better preparation before leaving
  • Amount of time abroad
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish that I would have known more about what to expect out of my internship in Australia. There were a lot of unknowns although everything worked out wonderfully.