Abroad Is Immense Cultural Immersion and Personal Growth Past Review
By A student (Middlebury College) - abroad from 03/01/2017 to 07/07/2017 with
Middlebury Schools Abroad - Middlebury in Florianópolis
I honed my language skills and acclimated to another culture; but I also understand more fully now of who I am and where I come from with this new reference point from abroad.
Review Photos
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. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
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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? |
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| * Safety: |
Difficult being a woman - I did not feel safe walking alone at night, there was a lot of catcalling, aggression from men at bars, and a multiple situations of men molesting themselves. I just needed to be very smart and cautious at all times. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I would choose the same program because of the intensive language immersion, beautiful natural surroundings, laid back beach culture, and the amazing people that I met along the way. |
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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | about 40 dollars a week |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Try to walk and share ubers when you can. Buy snacks in bulk to keep at home and try to make meals at home frequently so you can splurge when you are out with friends. |
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? | Intermediate |
| 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? | Advanced level |
| 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? | Ask questions when you don't understand, listen, and don't be afraid to make mistakes when speaking. |
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 wish I knew about all of the bureaucracy that I would be dealing with. I could have been much more prepared if I had known all the steps I needed to take to do things like withdraw money, get a Brazilian SIM card, get a CPF, etc. |
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.' |
