Seeing a country from bottom to top in 4 months! Past Review

By Lindsay W (Psychology and Religion, Middlebury College) - abroad from 02/18/2013 to 06/10/2013 with

University of Otago, New Zealand: Study Abroad Programme

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

I learned a lot and became more independent as a person. It was my first time living in a foreign country without anyone that I knew. I was nervous to be alone at first but learned that if you submerge yourself in all that being abroad has to offer, you figure it out quickly!

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program?	2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.	Cultural difference made classes difficult to perform well in
* 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 only encountered one health care issue and it was with a friend, not myself. It seemed to go smoothly
* Safety:
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)	A very, very expensive country.
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	$500
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	Pick your grocery store wisely & pool money in your flat for cooking.

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	Other
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Americans
* 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?	Other students Traveling Adventure/adrenaline activities
* What could be improved?	flat living - no heat, etc. Grade translation
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	Though New Zealand is about as far away as you can go, you instantly feel right at home

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:	Music In Popular Culture
Course Department:	Music
Instructor:	Olli Wilson
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	Fun & fun prof but all of the information was presented in the form of overcrowded powerpoints & it is physically impossible to get it all down.
Credit Transfer Issues:	No issues, however I don't believe the grading scale makes sense.

Course Name/Rating:	Gender
Course Department:	Gender
Instructor:	Janet Carter
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	Interesting and pleasant environment. Fair assignments and exams.
Credit Transfer Issues:	No issues

Course Name/Rating:	Maori culture
Course Department:	Maori Studies
Instructor:	Lyn Carter
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	Difficult to stay engaged but still learned a lot from the book
Credit Transfer Issues:	No issues, however I don't believe the grading scale makes sense.

Course Name/Rating:	Psychology of the Legal System
Course Department:	Psychology
Instructor:	Rachel Zajac
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	The class was interesting overall but the way in which it was administrated was not my favorite
Credit Transfer Issues:	No issues, however I don't believe the grading scale makes sense.