Incredible Australian Immersion March 04, 2024

By A student (Economics, Middlebury College) - abroad from 07/11/2024 to 12/06/2024 with

Arcadia: Sydney -Sydney Internship Program Summer

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

I learned a lot about Australian culture. I loved surfing already so it was an incredible experience to be able to consistently surf. I had the opportunity to explore much of the continent cheaply which I loved! Hostels were cheap. The trip was definitely worthwhile, I learned a lot and had a ton of fun!

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program?	6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?
* Food:
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?
* Safety:
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program?	No If I were to go again I would not use Arcadia. I believe it was a bit of a waste of money. If you are worried about having friends there Arcadia is a great option, but my recommendation would have been to not use this program but go at it alone and use school events and sign up for trips to meet friends.

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)	Sydney is a very expensive city, but the exchange rate was almost the best it has ever been while we were there so I had no complaints!
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	$150
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	Go grocery shopping instead of eating in restaurants, and the same with liquor stores instead of bars. In Australia, drink wine instead of beer!

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component?	No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Apartment
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Americans
* Who did you take classes with? Select all that apply	Local 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?	Friends Food Weather/Nature
* What could be improved?	Better program trips Larger groups Instruction on local social life
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	That I had an option to live much closer to the beach! I did not know UNSW existed, I likely would have gone there for closer proximity to the water.

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 Avid Adventurer The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	Intermediate Macroeconomics
Course Department:	Economics
Instructor:	N/A
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	This was the most challenging course I took, which was hybrid - half online or large lecture instruction and half in person smaller group tutorials. The teachers were very knowledgable and prepared. I went to nearly all my classes as I would at home. I was assessed mostly through exams, and a few problem sets.
Credit Transfer Issues:	I had no issues transferring this credit.

Course Name/Rating:	Australian Economic History
Course Department:	Economics
Instructor:	N/A
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	This course was incredibly interesting to get a more narrow look at a version of economic history I would have likely never learned about while grasping larger trends within world history. I participated in nearly all classes. The professor was knowledgable and well prepared. There were online lectures and smaller in-person tutorials. We were assessed through essays.
Credit Transfer Issues:	I had no issue transferring this class to a Middlebury credit.

Course Name/Rating:	Australian Sports and Culture
Course Department:	Interdisciplinary
Instructor:	N/A
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	This course was very easy. In it we explored Australian culture through different sports and events, each week going on a field trip to a different event such as an AFL or rugby match, or even horse or dog racing. The teacher was knowledgable on the subject. I went to all classes as they were very fun. We were assessed through participation, essays, and a final project on a sport of our choice.
Credit Transfer Issues:	I did not transfer a credit from this course for my major, but had no issues otherwise.

Course Name/Rating:	Australian Indigenous History
Course Department:	History
Instructor:	N/A
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	This course was a bit challenging as far as grading, but was incredibly interesting to get background and history on the treatment of indigenous peoples in Australia, especially in comparison with the treatment in North America. There were no field trips but we had in person classes. The teachers were very knowledgable. I participated as much as I would have at Middlebury and went to nearly all classes. We were assessed through essays.
Credit Transfer Issues:	I had no issues transferring credits for these courses.