So glad I did it July 12, 2021

By A student (Middlebury College) - abroad from 01/15/2021 to 05/15/2021 with

DIS Stockholm Semester

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

I gained new friends, new family, confidence, learned a lot in my classes that were quite unlike what I take at Midd, and gained so much from being immersed in a new culture. Just a new way of looking at things.

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.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program	The Stockholm team was eager and excited to have us and help us out. I felt at home there and supported.
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	I loved my homestay. I got so lucky with my host family and miss them dearly.
* Food:	Food was delicious. Somewhat similar to American cuisine, but enough differences and new things to try that it was exciting
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	It was fun to pick up on the language and feel like I knew the city by the time I was done. I felt at home
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?	It was really difficult to get tested for covid when we were suspected of having a close contact or being sick. But other than that our DIS doctor, Daria, was wonderful.
* Safety:	I felt safe almost always! City was clean and predictable.
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program?	Yes I would definitely choose DIS Stockholm! If I actually were doing it again I'd want to try a new experience but I would be so happy to be there in the city and with my host family.

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)	It was easier to not spend as much money because I was in a homestay and could pack meals and snacks. But it was fun to go out with friends.
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	$60
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	Use the grocery cards/lunch cards they give you to their full extent and plan around that!

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component?	Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language? 0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language	We did most things in English but they tried to get us involved in the culture as much as possible
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?	None for Swedish
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?	Live in a host family!

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Host Family
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Host Family
* Who did you take classes with? Select all that apply	Americans
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?	Host family Culture immersion Supportive faculty and professors
* What could be improved?	Variety of classes More money on our cards non-covid atmosphere!
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	I wish I hadn't been nervous about host family and that I could have done more things while I was there

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:	Forensic Psychology
Course Department:	Psychology
Instructor:	Meiling Liu
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Medical Ethics
Course Department:	Bioethics
Instructor:	Henrik Ahleius
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Swedish Language and Culture
Course Department:	Language
Instructor:	Maria Carlsson
Instruction Language:	Swedish/English
Comments:
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Human Trafficking and the Sex Trade
Course Department:	Human Rights and Legal Studies
Instructor:	Polina Smiragina
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	Polina was very knowledgable on the subjects and I felt like I learned a lot and gained new perspectives on the issues. She highlighted a lot of gender inequality and media disparities
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Independent Study - Migration and Access to Healthcare
Course Department:	INTD
Instructor:	Jad Shedrawy
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	It was hard to make my own schedule, but Jad was very helpful and supportive throughout the entire process
Credit Transfer Issues: