Being an Experiential Learner July 04, 2023

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

On-site administration of your program

I really struggled in feeling supported while enrolling in this program. I had decided to move from one campus to another almost eight months before actually getting to the school. It felt like this caused more issues than it needed to. Even when I arrived on campus, I had to go in person to the Student Centre to enroll and to figure out why I still hadn't payed tuition. What really stressed me out was not being able to enroll until only a few days before my classes started.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived in Student Village, a dorm with different blocks where some of them had been renovated while others had not. While I chose to be in dorms that had not been renovated, I had been led to believe I would be living in a small pod of six people that would share one kitchen, one bathroom, and one shower. However, it ended up being eighteen people sharing one kitchen, two bathrooms, and two showers.

I was on the meal plan which meant we had three meals a day at the dining hall for Student Village. There was always a vegetarian option which was ideal for me, however there were not always vegan options.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The international office was really kind, but I often felt like just a number. While boasting of running many trips for international students, they ended up only running a few and often these trips would fill up because they had only made enough spots for a tiny percentage of international students. I think it would have been better going into my experience abroad knowing that I was going to have to make plans and opportunities for myself instead of relying on the international office to do so.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I had been worried because I had changed locations to be in a larger city. The central location of Hamilton and the larger student body meant that I was able to do/see more and meet more people.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

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• Dorm

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• Local Students
• Americans
• International Students

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• Local Students
• Americans

• Traveling/Exploring
• Bonding with hallmates
• Learning

• More information before arriving in New Zealand
• More international student spaces, even just housing them near each other
• More international student experiences - experiences that they would not have been able to find by themselves and that are vital to their understanding of their location and place as a visitor

The Avid Adventurer