Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Cool experience but… (disappointing, anti-climatic, lonely) August 02, 2023

By (Literature, Middlebury College) - abroad from 02/27/2023 to 07/14/2023 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Montevideo

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Yes it was worthwhile. i gained confidence and better Spanish skills and independence.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Lots of reading but not too difficult of concepts and very few written work.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Very kind and helpful, although sometimes too involved and hands on.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

At first I was very upset because I requested not to live with a young child. Since then, I became very close to my host little brother and enjoyed living with the family.

* Food:

Food is not great. Very little seasoning or vegetables or variety. Almost entirely meat and pasta or rice.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt like an outsider at almost all times. I did find a community within my host family and internship.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

It’s not tooo dangerous but I was followed and harassed and threatened multiple times. There were not enough safety warnings and trainings through the program.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

I would choose a different South American country live Argentina or Chile.

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)

We were not prepared for the high cost of living in Montevideo

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? about $200
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Montevideo is expense!! Rent is expensive through the school— advocate for yourself.

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? Intermediate
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? 472
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 in Spanish as much as possible and watch TV before departing.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The city
  • The other students
  • My internship
* What could be improved?
  • Middlebury outings
  • Integration into the culture
  • More students
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Montevideo is really expense and can be boring and lonely and hard to communicate. While it was a good experience I wasn’t prepared for how difficult the program was going to be (NOT academically)

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 Blazer
Craving 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.'

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Literatura Inglesa
Course Department: Letras
Instructor:
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: It was slightly challenging and the teacher was very knowledgeable. I frequently participated in class. We were graded on homework, presentations, and 2 exams.
Credit Transfer Issues: TBD
Course Name/Rating:

Literatura Latinoamericana II
Course Department: Letras
Instructor:
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: It wasn’t too challenging although there was lots of reading required. We were graded by an exam and an essay
Credit Transfer Issues: