A semester full of incredible bonds, learning experiences, and joy. January 08, 2024

By A student (Environmental Studies and Biology, Middlebury College) - abroad from 09/02/2023 to 12/04/2023 with

The School for Field Studies / SFS: Australia – Rainforest studies

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

I made friends who were way different from me, learned how to work in groups with all kinds of people, developed field skills, learned to live without a lot of modern comforts (ex. dryer, dishwasher, wifi, heat/electricity), fell in love with being outdoors all day. One of the best experiences of my entire life.

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.
* 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?	I had to receive medical care at a local medical facility. The program staff acted immediately to get me care and I had a prescription within 2 hours of reporting my medical issue, despite the center being very remote.
* Safety:
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program?	Yes Yes, but I would also look into what I was getting into a bit more so I could have emotionally prepared a bit better.

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)	When at the center, I spent no money at all, with the exception of some occasional snacks. Twice a month, during our weekends off, I spent money on meals and hostel stays, but overall I spent very little money while at the program.
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	$10-25 during program, $50 for weekends off
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	I spent the most money during my mid-semester break and post-program travelling. Overall,

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component?	No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Other
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Americans
* 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?	0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?	Professors and classes Friendships Living in the rainforest while also studying it
* What could be improved?	Bathrooms were tiny and not super clean More contact with people outside of the center
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	It is socially intense. You live, work, learn, cook, clean, etc. with the same 30 people every single day for months, all concentrated in the same center. It forges incredible bonds, but it also makes you feel a bit out of touch with the outside world. Also, I didn't know that we were responsible for cooking and cleaning at the center. Occasionally I would have to put off homework/academics to attend to housekeeping items which was something I was not used to. I think I also wish I knew how remote the center was. It's deep in the rainforest and far from any city, and I had imagined it being much closer to Cairns.

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 Avid Adventurer The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	Tropical Biome Ecology
Course Department:
Instructor:	Deborah Apagua
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	This course was very challenging and fieldwork intensive. There were a few reports and projects due for the class, as well as a plant ID quiz and a final exam. Deborah was an absolute expert and a great professor. The final exam was extremely challenging, but she met the students where they were at and modified it to more accurately assess our learning once we gave feedback.
Credit Transfer Issues:	No

Course Name/Rating:	Wildlife Conservation Biology
Course Department:
Instructor:	Sigrid Heise-Pavlov
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	Amazing field trips, very academically challenging and interesting. Siggy provided the best lectures and field work experiences. I felt incredibly involved. We were assessed by many presentations, a report, a bird ID quiz, and a final exam.
Credit Transfer Issues:	No

Course Name/Rating:	Directed Research
Course Department:
Instructor:	David Tng
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	David was an amazing leader for our DR. I learned so much, felt very prepared and involved, and loved working in a team. We were assessed with a big final report, video, and presentation.
Credit Transfer Issues:	Middlebury does not accept independent project credits from other institutions.

Course Name/Rating:	Environmental Sustainability and Socioeconomics
Course Department:
Instructor:	Mia Derhe
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	The visiting instructor was ok, but her lectures were a bit dry and she did not respond well to student feedback. The field trip to the Bat hospital was amazing, as well as the Aboriginal cultural experience. We were assessed by a final paper, exam, and stakeholder presentation. Overall, I felt as if I had learned most course content already at Middlebury and did not feel very challenged, unlike the other courses at SFS.
Credit Transfer Issues:	This counts towards ES credits but not biology.