Dulcius Ex Asperis (Sweeter After Difficulties) July 11, 2022
By Zane I (Political Science and French, Swarthmore College) - abroad from 01/10/2022 to 05/31/2022 with
Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Yaoundé
I learned how to listen better, to opposing ideas as well as to criticism. I learned some much-needed patience, humility, and grit. I picked up some new hobbies (like photography), encouraged by program peers and mentors. I learned how to manage cross-cultural personal relationships, picking up some conflict-resolution and crisis-management skills along the way. I'm using the language of LinkedIn recruiters here, but in reality I was shaped as a human being more than anything else. Unquestionably worthwhile.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Because of how well-linked experiences in and outside the classroom were. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Stellar aside from occasional miscommunications |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The host family? Warm, encouraging, and respectful of boundaries. The quality of life? Difficult to get used to for a spoiled American. |
| * Food: |
Depends heavily upon who is doing the cooking at your house. When I didn't like what was cooked at my place, going out to find food was cheap and easy. |
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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? |
Positive: the program doctor responded to messages fairly quickly. Negatives: Protocols for seeking healthcare were often complex or unclear. Hygiene in medical facilities was awful. Living in Yaoundé presents many risk factors for health, from dusty streets to different food safety standards. |
| * Safety: |
Like anywhere, people in Yaoundé are 99% well-intentioned. As a foreigner, you are more likely to attract the 1%. I was mugged, and fortunately unharmed. I felt unsafe in several instances, with the primary fear being theft. By following safety recommendations and personal experience, I was able to avoid physical harm from altercations, road accidents, etc. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
The friends, memories, skills, and experiences I made were irreplaceable. The amount of growth and perspective I gained on French, myself, and the world is astonishing. I was looking for an experience that would change me, and I got it. |
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) |
For the most part, very affordable. If you want to indulge on some imported goods or foods, which I found hard to avoid by the end, you'll spend more. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Without exceptional expenses, I was usually between $40-70 a week on food, transport, etc. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Find a reliable provider of small bills; it can cost a lot to break your large bills by buying something every time. I recommend finding someone at a gas station who will take a few coins to exchange your large bills for smaller ones. |
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 |
The pledge is real! |
| 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? | Lots of French-language film and literature courses |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 10+ |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | You'll get plenty of reading and writing practice in-class, so focus on speaking and listening from a variety of different places. One thing I regret: neglecting grammar. After six months, I absorbed some new things, but I would have progressed more if I took the time to study and understand the structures I was using. |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Exchange |
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? | In many ways, the experience was made by all that I couldn't know going into it. The discovery of good and bad, and the struggle of facing the unknown on a daily basis, was integral to my growth. That being said, a few tips from my own limited experience: - don't count on making your own clothes for cheap there unless you are a female-presenting person comfortable with wearing things that "look African," for lack of a better way of putting it. - bring enough bottles of bug spray, medications, and deodorant. to last you the whole semester. Imported goods are pricey, and not always available. - Your host family, your local friends, and even the program staff (to a lesser extent) will not always know how to take care of you. You have to be the boss of that, either communicating your needs as clearly as possible or getting it done yourself. Sounds simple, but for someone like me, it wasn't always. |
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 Academic or LinguistYou went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you! |
