Overall amazing experience with lots of exposure to local culture and geology October 05, 2026
By Riley N (Middlebury College) - abroad from 01/19/2026 to 08/19/2026 with
Frontiers Abroad: New Zealand Earth Systems
What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Valuable field skills, lab experience, and new knowledge in geology along with new cultural insights in Te Ao Maori. Very worthwhile!
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* 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 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 100$ USD/Week |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
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| 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 |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| 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? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Weather patterns of NZ and a better sense of what to pack |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Maori Storytelling |
| Course Department: | Maori Studies |
| Instructor: | Kirsty Dunn |
| Instruction Language: | English |
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| Course Name/Rating: |
Depositional Environments and Stratigraphy |
| Course Department: | Geology |
| Instructor: | Kari Basset |
| Instruction Language: | English |
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| Course Name/Rating: |
Rocks, Minerals, and Ores |
| Course Department: | Geology |
| Instructor: | Ben Kennedy |
| Instruction Language: | English |
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Field-Focused Research Methods |
| Course Department: | Environmental Science |
| Instructor: | Sarah Smithies |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
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