Loving the City of Eternal Spring Past Review

By A student (Middlebury College) - abroad from 02/13/2013 to 06/01/2019 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Kunming

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

I got to experience local life after making friends with a group of local brewers, and got to increase not only firm up my conversational Chinese, but also develop vocabulary in topics of my own choosing. As an avid craft beer enthusiast, my decision to pursue China's emerging craft beer scene as a one on one topic kept me interested and challenged.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program?	6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?
* Food:
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?
* Safety:
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program?	Yes

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)
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	~$50-100, depending on the weekend
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	Eat at the cafeteria often!

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?	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?	CHNS 0301- Advanced Chinese
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?	Talk to your roommate and teachers!

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Dorm Hotel
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Local Students
* Who did you take classes with? Select all that apply	Americans
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?	Kunming as a city opportunities to engage in local culture Support from MiC Kunming faculty
* What could be improved?	making roommate events optional
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	I know now that MiC Kunming is entirely what one is willing to make of it. The program was made what it was by decisions to go out and pursue things I found interesting.

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 Outright Urbanite A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.