Amazing experience July 30, 2022
By A student (French, Middlebury College) - abroad from 01/02/2022 to 05/25/2022 with
Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Paris
Sooo worthwhile I learned a lot about myself
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I loved my abroad experience so much |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Everyone was so nice and helpful! |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My first host family treated me awfully. My second was amazing but I wish there was a better pairing system with families to students with consideration for their identities and the views of the host family because the views/ignorance of a host family not only affected me but plenty of friends. This is disappointing. |
| * Food: |
Depends on housing! Some host families are strict about eating and some are not. Better when they are not.... |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
It depends on the placement of housing-- my first host family was very strict about eating and when I could eat and what stuff I could use. They wouldn't let me use small things like salad dressing unless I purchased it. Therefore, I spent a lot of money outside of the house. My second family was much much more welcoming and bought me stuff I liked and they didn't care when I ate and offered me anything I saw in the house. This was very kind. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I wish there was more information given about the healthcare system and the fact that our health insurance can't get us a lot of things because it's technically not real health insurance. Simultaneously, I felt very at ease and comfortable with the system. I was able to start birth control very easily by visiting a provider under our insurance. It was harder to try and get an IUD because the gynecologists under our plan were very limited. |
| * Safety: |
I felt very safe in Paris. Far safer than in New York. There were a handful of times I kind of jogged from my uber to my front door depending on who was around the area, but that was partly because of the hour I was coming in, so that is to be expected anywhere. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
Midd was so helpful! |
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 spent a lot of money but it's my own fault and I saved up a lot for the very purpose of spending so it's okay. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | approx. 150 euros a week |
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? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | French 367 |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 10+ |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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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 tried harder for a foyer. |
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 UrbaniteA 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. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Advanced French |
| Course Department: | French |
| Instructor: | Patrick Guedon |
| Instruction Language: | French |
| Comments: | It was challenging sometimes to understand the standards we were being held to in order to understand how we were being graded, but I caught on |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | N/A |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Gender Studies in France |
| Course Department: | French/Gender Studies |
| Instructor: | Anais Frantz de Spot |
| Instruction Language: | French |
| Comments: | Good class! Concepts sometimes were jumbled and a bit confusing, but I learned a lot! |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | N/A |
