Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

So worth doing!!! June 28, 2023

By (Geography, Middlebury College) - abroad from 02/13/2023 to 06/26/2023 with

University of Canterbury: Christchurch - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was certainly worthwhile! I gained confidence in myself, made wonderful memories alone and with friends, and learned about what it's like to live in a foreign country.

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.

Courses were interesting and meaningful, but less intensive than my Middlebury courses. Traditional classes were heavily lecture based, with a few large term assignments and little nightly homework. There was also the opportunity to take classes taught in a less traditional manner. Kapa Haka was my favorite!!

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived in Sonoda, where there were lots of other international students. I loved that aspect of it, but otherwise it was pretty expensive for the quality. Local uni students generally live in flats in the neighborhood. Mold poses a health hazard in some of the rooms at Sonoda.

* Food:

I cooked for myself and loved it!!! There are lots of good farmers markets to visit for produce and yummy bread.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

It was easy to get treatment at the Uni Health center, though I had to pay out of pocket for the recommended meningococcal vaccines. Flu vaccines were free. Physical therapy for accident related injuries (I was in a minor bike crash) was subsidized by the government.

* Safety:

Christchurch and New Zealand felt very safe. Biking on the left side of the road took a little adjusting to. In general, Christchurch is very car dominated, so it took a little getting used to being a pedestrian/cyclist there, but after a few weeks I found the city very navigable without a car.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Nothing is perfect. I faced challenges personal and academic, related to and unrelated to being abroad, but tackling these challenges on my own, in a foreign country has made me feel more confident and at peace with myself. I met some amazing people, did lots of traveling, and had a wonderful time!!!

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? ~$75-125, more on weeks where I went traveling. There was a favorable exchange rate.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Check out the intercity bus pass - it allows you to buy hours of bus time that you can use on any trip for way cheaper than buying individual tickets, even if you don't use them all. Also, get a tertiary bus card in Christchurch!! If you are looking for a cheap, used bike, check out RAD. I used an international credit card with no transaction fees, but bank transfer is a very common way to pay for things (there's no venmo), so it might be worth looking into a local bank account. I was able to get a pretty cheap phone plan through Skinny mobile.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Direct Enrollment/Exchange

* Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? Direct Enrollment

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
  • Other
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
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?
  • Independence
  • Flexible schedule
  • Living with other international students
* What could be improved?
  • Pre-arrival information
  • Academic culture preparation
  • Housing options
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? That studying abroad was 100% the right decision!

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:

Strengthening Communities Through Social Innovation
Course Department: Youth and Community Leadership
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments: I loved the field trips we went on during this class, but felt that the rest of the content was underprepared and room for meaningful reflection stifled. I wish we had gone further beyond the 'surface level'.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Kapa Haka Maori Performing Arts
Course Department: Music/Te Reo/Maori Studies
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English & Te Reo Maori
Comments: I loved this course! Most of it was practical: we learned 6 waiata (songs) and their accompanying actions and performed them for our friends and whānau (family) as our final exam. I highly recommend!
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Transportation and Urban Development
Course Department: Geography
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments: I loved the content of this class. As far as lectures go, these were pretty engaging, and assignments felt like they were intentionally designed to prepare us for careers in policy/government. I'd recommend this course to anyone interested in sustainable development and/or public/active transport infrastructure.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Coastal Studies
Course Department: Geography
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This was a solid course that taught me about wave and sediment dynamics on ocean and lake shores. I give it three stars only because I was hoping for a little more interdisciplinary content.
Credit Transfer Issues: