An Unforgettable Semester Past Review

By A student (Physics., Middlebury College) - abroad from 06/29/2012 to 11/12/2012 with

University of Otago, New Zealand: Study Abroad Programme

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

I definitely learned a lot more about myself. I learned more about what I need to do to stay happy. I also came to appreciate my home and Middlebury a lot more, while also seeing some of the flaws of home. It was definitely, without a doubt worthwhile.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program?	1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.	Otago is much less rigorous than Middlebury and there a lot of large, impersonal classes.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program	The IFSA people are great! They're super friendly and made things really easy.
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	I really liked living with both other international students and Kiwi students in their own environment.
* Food:
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	Being around so many international students felt a little isolating at times, but over all I felt like I got a really good feel of New Zealand student culture.
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?
* Safety:	I always felt very safe in New Zealand, especially around the university where officers were constantly on patrol.
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program?	Yes

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)	Food is a little more expensive there. I also did a lot of traveling via car, and gas is more expensive.
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	$110
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	I bought a car with a few other people, which ended up being more cost-efficient in the long run. We saved money on renting cars and were able to sell it again at the end of the semester. Used cars in New Zealand can be very cheap and driving is the best way to see the country! Also, take advantage of campsites while traveling. They are extremely cheap and can be a lot of fun.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component?	No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Apartment
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Local Students 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?	The trips The people I was with
* What could be improved?	More interaction with locals
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	New Zealand is not as different from the United States as it seemed to me. People can handle a lot more change than you think.

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:	Electromagnetism & Condensed Matter
Course Department:	Physics`
Instructor:	Terri Scott
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	This course was much easier than physics at Middlebury. The electromagnetism part of the course was taught very well, while the condensed matter portion was not as enjoyable. The exam was much more straight forward than Middlebury, but more heavily weighted.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Ethical Issues
Course Department:	Philosophy
Instructor:
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	This was my favorite course I took abroad. I learned a lot and felt that the discussion sections were very helpful and enjoyable. I felt comfortable talking about difficult issues in class. The workload was pretty light, with 2 exams and 1 paper.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Controversial Classics
Course Department:	English
Instructor:
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	This class was different for me, as I am a science major, but I still enjoyed most of this class. There was a good mix of material covered, from American to British to New Zealand. As a literature class there was a fair amount of reading with several response papers due throughout the term, as well as a paper and a final exam.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Maori Society
Course Department:	Maori Studies
Instructor:	Suzanne Duncan
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	This course was incredibly easy with minimal work. It was very large (850 students) and everything was taught via powerpoint, which made lectures boring and unnecessary, as all the material was available online. I did learn more than I expected about Maori culture.
Credit Transfer Issues: