Not too bad August 01, 2023
By A student (French Language, Literature, Amherst College) - abroad from 01/03/2023 to 05/10/2023 with
Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Bordeaux
I know my personal boundaries and values with respect to my personal relationships with people.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The protests led to a reduced workload; so less rigor but more overall confusion |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Very hands off, I appreciated the independence later on after settling in |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
i had a good living situation, my host family treated me with kindness and were hospitable |
| * Food: |
My host mom cooked healthy and tasty French food |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Sciences Po Bdx was very much an international, non international divide so it was difficult to integrate |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I never had healthcare problems |
| * Safety: |
I always felt safe, largely because I'm a large guy, mainly for women to find someone to walk with them always. People definitely catcall |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I enjoyed myself and I learned a lot about myself, I wouldn't change a thing |
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 recieved an advance from Amherst which allowed me to not have to worry about finances - travel was a large expense |
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 |
Mandatory |
| 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? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 300 |
| 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? | Meet French people, its hard though |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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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? | do all sciences po, don't mix unis |
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.' |
