An Immersive and Independent Program Experience Past Review
By Kristen Tuttle (Macalester College) - abroad from 01/23/2017 to 06/20/2017 with
Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Belo Horizonte
My Portuguese skills got VERY good, I met amazing people that I know I'll keep in touch with, and I also got to better understand the complexities of Brazil's history, culture, and politics. It was absolutely worthwhile.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I found the courses to be less rigorous than my courses in the US, but I still really enjoyed them and learned a lot. I also think that it would be possible to pick harder courses if someone is truly looking for an academically rigorous experience. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Some program events were disorganized or planned at the last minute, but I believe this is at least partially due to the generally more laid-back culture of Brazil. However, I still think the program could have done a better job in this area. Some cultural activities that the program wanted to do didn't end up happening, or were very last minute. It could be frustrating for those looking for a more structured program. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I loved my host family!! I also lived very close to the campus. |
| * Food: |
I miss it a lot, actually. My host family ended up making my meals for me, and we worked it out to include this in what I paid for rent. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I didn't have any major health issues while abroad, but I'm giving four stars because this was an area that the program didn't cover much in orientation. I do think that if I had had a health issue and needed help managing it though that I could have asked the program and gotten some assistance. |
| * Safety: |
I never had any issues, but as with any Brazilian city, you have to be cautious. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* 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 found that food and going out were less expensive in Brazil than in the U.S. My rent was also cheaper in Brazil, even including most of my meals. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | I spent about $600/month, including rent, food, my gym membership, and my phone bill. This would be about $150/week, or $50/week excluding rent. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Do not rely on Uber or taxis! Public transportation will save you so much money, even though Ubers initially appear reasonably priced (as compared to prices in the US). |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
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| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Fluent |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | I had taken the equivalent of four semesters of Portuguese before the program, but I also was already fluent in Spanish which helped a lot. |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 10+ |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Make Brazilian friends! Just reach out, and you'll find that most Brazilians are eager to chat and make friends. Get involved however you can so you can meet local people. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| 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? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I can't think of anything that I really needed to know before arriving for the program that I wasn't already prepared for. I think a big thing people should know in general is how important it is to really develop your Portuguese skills as much as possible before the program. The better your Portuguese upon arrival, the easier time you'll have bonding with your host family, making friends, feeling comfortable in the city, etc. Especially because the program is more hands-off with students, Portuguese skills make a big difference. |
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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
