Grand January 05, 2024

By A student (Psychology, Middlebury College) - abroad from 08/18/2023 to 12/13/2023 with

DIS Stockholm Semester

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

It was definitely worth it. I meet people I probably wouldn't have become friends within the Middlebury bubble. It was a lovely reset from the sometimes toxic Middlebury environment. I learned to be more open-minded, optimistic, and less judgemental.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program?	0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.	DIS is well resources. I had people I could reach out to in every division. The academic rigor and intensity overall were high school level, but there were definitely gems like Positive Psychology.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program	Everyone was very kind and generous.
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	I enjoyed being part of the Outdoor LLC because we were able to explore Stockholm nature together. The only thing I did not enjoy was the room setup because I lived in the kitchen/common space while my roommate had her own room.
* Food:	Before studying abroad, I have always loved to cook. If not cooking for myself there were many dining options near my apartment.
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	I wish there were more opportunities to connect with the local culture.
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?
* Safety:	I felt very safe.
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program?	Yes I meet a diverse group of people not from Middlebury. It was big enough to find my people but not too big, where I would feel lost. I enjoyed the variety of psychology classes offered and most of the teachers. I liked how we were given time off to explore other parts of Europe as well as the study tours.

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)	I spent most of my budget on travel.
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	In Stockholm, $65
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	Learn how to cook for yourself.

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
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?	No Swedish language experience
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?	Practice with locals

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Apartment Hostel
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Americans International Students
* Who did you take classes with? Select all that apply	Americans International 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?	Location People Travel
* What could be improved?	Instructors Local Engagement
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	More about living situations and the visiting host family program.

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:	Positive Psychology
Course Department:	Psychology
Instructor:	Susanna Z. Papp
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	Great teacher!
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Performance Psychology
Course Department:	Psychology
Instructor:	Meiling Liu
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	I enjoyed participating in the mentorship program.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Food Psychology
Course Department:	Psychology
Instructor:	Hannaneh Yazdi
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	I thought the teacher was not knowledgeable and well-prepared, but I enjoyed the freedom to pick the topic of food marketing psychology and spend three class periods presenting my groups findings.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Swedish Language and Culture
Course Department:
Instructor:	Staffan Bengtsson
Instruction Language:	Swedish/English
Comments:	Learning Swedish was challenging because there was a significant focus on grammar instead of pronunciation, the alphabet, numbers, and essential words.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Emerging Adulthood
Course Department:	Psychology
Instructor:	Monica Siqueiros Sanchez and Joshua Juvrud
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	It was great learning about the differences between Swedish and American culture. The field study of the sex education non-profit was very informative.
Credit Transfer Issues: