Amazing experience in New Zealand with lots of traveling and outdoor adventures June 04, 2023

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

While the class I took for my major was exceptional, the learning style of a bigger university did not suit me as well. Overall the classes were interesting and satisfactory, but I thought the environment and the rigor were not up to my usual standards from Middlebury.

On-site administration of your program

The month long field camp at the beginning was very well organized and had a lot of positive administrative involvement, but involvement faded as the semester progressed and it was somewhat more difficult to be in touch with the main director as a resource. The research methods class organized by the program was a great experience.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The apartment itself was a great place to live, the only thing I would say is that it's a somewhat strange pairing to be living with 18 year old kiwis as a 21 year old American. As people that are new to college there is already a discrepancy in stage of life, and combined with cultural differences, some things don't run as smoothly in the apartment. That being said, cultural exposure is the main point of studying abroad, I just think being paired with people closer to my age may have been a bit more comfortable.

Self-catered food, may have been nice to have access to an oven, but a stove and microwave were sufficient.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

This is one of my regrets from the semester. While I made some excellent friends from my program, I found it much more difficult to become close friends with New Zealanders. However, I do feel as though I am part of the culture here, even if it's not on a social level.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I didn't have any healthcare issues, but I did buy classes and was able to get them almost fully refunded by insurance. I would have liked to go to the dentist, but wasn't able to figure out how to do that without paying out of pocket. Would have been nice if insurance covered this, or if there was some resource more available to help me figure it out.

I felt extremely safe the entire time I was here.

Frontiers Abroad provided a great introduction to New Zealand culture and provided us the opportunity to travel to many places during field camp and bond with our peers in a meaningful way.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

I didn't have to spend very much money apart from money spent on food and trips. I am not used to budgeting every meal so that part was difficult, but not excessively expensive.

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• Apartment

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• Local Students
• Americans

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• Local Students
• Americans
• International Students

• Traveling
• Not much academic pressure
• Freedom

• Communication with administration
• Academic rigor
• More organized trips with the program

The Avid Adventurer