A year in Oslo Past Review

By A student (Middlebury College) - abroad from 08/09/2015 to 05/15/2016 with

USAC Norway: Oslo - Undergraduate and Graduate Courses

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

I learned to be resilient, how to start with no friends in a completely new place and build a community for myself. Especially as a political science major, it was interesting to be abroad in the leadup to a presidential election and understand more about how America is viewed from the outside.

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.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program	No on-site administration, but I knew that when I picked it
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	The organization that most students (including Norwegians) go through for housing is extremely frustrating to deal with. I had a lot of trouble in my first flat, but once I moved, I really enjoyed living there. I was lucky that I became very close friends with some of my roommates.
* Food:	I cooked for myself every meal. Groceries in Oslo are ok; not as expensive as I was expecting.
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	I would say that I spent more time with other international students, mostly Europeans, than Norwegians. I made a few Norwegian friends through student groups, but it took a lot of effort.
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?	No problems
* Safety:	Oslo felt very safe to me. I would walk around at night by myself and feel completely ok.
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program?	No

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?	$130 not including rent

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component?	Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language? 0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language
How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program?	None
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program?	Beginner
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure?	Beginning
How many hours per day did you use the language?
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants?	Insist on speaking it a little with Norwegians, they think it's funny to practice with you. Some people watch TV/movies with subtitles

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Dorm 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?	cheap tuition decent communication
* What could be improved?	help students find each other in Oslo
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	You will get jealous when you see friends on other programs have a more "programmy," group experience.

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:	Norwegian for International Students
Course Department:
Instructor:
Instruction Language:
Comments:	I liked the class, but more for the social aspect than because I felt the teaching was very good. The professor was too laid back, so class time was wasted.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	History of Consumer Society
Course Department:
Instructor:
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	This was seminar style, which was why I picked it. I enjoyed that the professor tried to have a more discussion-based approach, and she really knew the material and was able to bring the readings alive.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Scandinavian Welfare State
Course Department:	Sociology
Instructor:
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	The course is taught by rotating lecturers. Some are very well prepared, but it was jarring to have a completely new topic every week (parental leave, then employment for example). There was no overall flow or themes for the semester, which would have really helped to make me remember this class. Lectures were about 50 students. A midterm paper that is pass/fail, then a 6 hour final.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Overheating
Course Department:	Sociology
Instructor:
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	Rotating lecturers; some were very good teachers but a few were really terrible at public speaking. I was not impressed with the course overall- too many readings, but the lectures didn't feel very advanced or sophisticated.
Credit Transfer Issues: