Unique challenges of life in a foreign country leads to unexpected growth August 09, 2022

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Personally, I found the academic rules and resources that Middlebury Schools Abroad in Spain offered its students made the program more stressful rather than helpful. The coursework itself was challenging and worthwhile but the program overall could have been directed in a more supportive way of students' experience in a foreign country.

On-site administration of your program

The administration of the Middlebury office in Spain prioritized making the program as difficult and inflexible as it could be for students so that students wouldn't "slack off" abroad. This was frustrating because the administration created rules that do not even apply on campus in Vermont. For example, students could not have a single unexcused absence throughout the semester, and the standards for an excused absence were unreasonable. If you were sick, you had to get a doctor's note to justify missing class. Living in Madrid, the process of reaching a doctor to receive a note (which had to be sent before class) was not easily accessible, particularly with early morning classes. At Middlebury, almost all classes employ a policy that allows 1-2 unexcused absences in a semester. Thus, the administration in Spain was not trying to maintain the standards of Middlebury College in VT, but was going beyond those standards to enforce even more inflexibility. Given that studying in a foreign country naturally creates new challenges for students, I found the added and unnecessary difficulties created by the administration to be not only unreasonable but insensitive to the nature of a study around experience.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived with a host-family, which was my favorite part of my whole experience abroad. Living with locals exposed me to what life is really like for Spanish citizens, and I learned a great deal about their culture. Additionally, living with a host-family was the biggest cause of improvement in my Spanish, as my family didn't speak any English.

I am not a picky eater, so I had no problems with the food I was served at my host-family's house. The only issue that arose with my host-family was miscommunication regarding how many meals my rent entitled me to and when those meals would be provided. I suggest students have an open conversation with their host-family at the start of their time abroad so that a system can be made with everyone onboard, particularly if you are planning to travel and thus not be home consistently.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

My experience at the local Spanish university (Universidad Autónoma de Madrid) and living with a host-family made me feel as integrated into the culture as I think I could have been. Naturally, there were social barriers, particularly between myself and local university students who all knew each other already, but I think those barriers are inevitable to some extent.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

The Middlebury administration in Madrid referred us to a few hospitals and doctor's office, and the one I used throughout the semester was helpful and accessible when you called in advance to make an appointment.

I felt very well-prepared by the Middlebury administration in Spain to navigate Madrid in a safe manner. Spain has high rates of petty theft, but if you are alert and cautious, students can enjoy the city to its fullest in a safe manner.

I absolutely loved Spain and Madrid, I had a wonderful relationship with my host-family, and I made great friends. I also appreciated how much this program emphasized cultural integration, rather than creating a program which just felt like American students traveling throughout Europe without experiencing the culture, as I've heard other American abroad programs do.

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

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

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• Host Family

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• Host Family

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• Local Students
• Americans
• International Students

• My experience with my host-family
• The amount of independence I was granted
• All the opportunities and experiences offered in Madrid

• The academic expectations of the Middlebury School in Madrid
• The support for students living with host-families, both regarding meal plan expectations and the room & board payment process
• Clear expectations for host families so that they all provide uniform services for all students, with respect to cleaning and meals

The Outright Urbanite