A time of outdoor adventure and learning to live on my own January 08, 2024

By (Earth Science, Middlebury College) - abroad from 06/26/2023 to 11/02/2023 with

Frontiers Abroad: New Zealand Earth Systems

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned a lot about how to live on my own. For example: buying my own groceries, making meals, and figuring out how to occupy myself in my free time.

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.

Some classes I took were challenging, while others were easier

* 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?

* Safety:

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

While I had some issues with the program, they were largely outweighed by positive experiences, great learning opportunities, and fun adventures.

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? Probably a little over $100usd a week
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Doing large grocery shops so you can have food for a while. Limit eating out at restaurants.

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
* 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? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The natural beauty of New Zealand
  • The field camp portion of my program
  • The people I met
* What could be improved?
  • I didn't love the NZ cities, but I didn't fully explore them and it isn't really something that can be improved.
  • I didn't like the class/grading structure at the University of Canterbury as much as Middlebury
  • I found it hard to connect with Local New Zealanders
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Take advantage of every opportunity to travel and explore, because your time there will be gone before you know it.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

From Bambi to Kong: The Animal in Popular Culture

Course Department: English
Instructor: Annie Potts
Instruction Language: English
Comments:
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Forensic Palaeontology

Course Department: Geology
Instructor: Catherine Reid, Matiu Prebble, Jamie Shulmeister, Vanesa De Pietri and Paul Scofield
Instruction Language: English
Comments: The course was challenging but had aspects that were very interesting. I did not like that the instructor/lecturer would change every few weeks. The teachers had differing teaching styles which made for a harder learning environment.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Field-focused Research Methods

Course Department: Geology
Instructor: Sarah Smithies
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This class was run by Frontiers Abroad, and it built up to a final manuscript and presentation on a group project. I really enjoyed the class and my group. It also incorporated some field work and it was powerful to be working on actual issues that effected local communities.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Te Tiriti: The Treaty of Waitangi

Course Department: History
Instructor: Phillip Borell
Instruction Language: English
Comments:
Credit Transfer Issues: