"A Whole New World, With New Horizons to Pursue" --- Aladdin Past Review

By A student (Middlebury College) - abroad from 02/16/2017 to 06/09/2017 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Kunming

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

It was so worthwhile. It provides an opportunity to entertain diversity. Even for people who know already that the similarities and differences exist, they too get the chance to internalize it all in experience. It also gives students the chance to make connections with all kinds of new people and places, connections that may last a lifetime.

Review Photos

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Kunming Photo

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	The academic director favorited some students over others and did not have a healthy attitude on schoolwork and studies. She encouraged high stress levels that most students could not maintain. She specifically told some students that they were not cut out for the program and that they did not belong there.
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	They were almost too nice. They did not really give students the experience of living in Chinese dorms but were very comfortable and the roommates were amazing!
* 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 had to have a few checkups while abroad. It was made accessible and the health insurance was great.
* Safety:	The parts of China I was in seemed safer than most any parts of the U.S. that I have spent time.
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program?	Yes I don't think there is a better place to learn about and engage in difference in China than Yunnan. Especially for language learners the region provides a whole new outlook on the linguistic complexity of China. The proximity to South East Asia sheds new light on political and economic realities in the country.

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?	~$50
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	Eat less out and more in the school cafeteria's! Take less taxis and instead brave the bus systems. Download the Chinese apps that everyone uses. They provided amazing discounts and deals that you won't have access to otherwise.

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	Very intense language pledge. It was awesome!!
How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program?	Intermediate
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program?	Advanced
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure?	3rd level Chinese
How many hours per day did you use the language?	10+
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants?	Try to say whatever you are thinking! Find ways to get outside of the international student communities where you are (get a gym membership, take local dance classes, go to local bars, go to church/ other worship or spiritual places)

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Dorm
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Local Students
* Who did you take classes with? Select all that apply	Americans
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?	Location Roomates/Teachers/Classmates Extracurriculars/ GPS/ Weekend trips
* What could be improved?	Academic Director More integration with partner institution (Yunnan University)
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	Study abroad can be a unique opportunity to combine classroom study with in country experience. Everyone does what they want with their time abroad but I think there is something amazingly valuable in finding a way to balance the things that this kind of program provides to all students with a more individualized life abroad experience. Don't go abroad and spend all your time in a classroom/ at a desk but also don't go in resenting the work that the program gives you and wishing that you didn't have to be in class all the time. There is value in both places and after college the school resources will most likely be harder to come by!

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 Academic or Linguist You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	One on One
Course Department:	Chinese
Instructor:	Liu Rui
Instruction Language:	Chinese
Comments:	Loved the one on one class! It provided a cool opportunity for students to get close to an instructor and to work with that person inside and outside the classroom to improve language skills based in a particuar topic of the student's interest!
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Ethnic Minorities
Course Department:	Chinese
Instructor:	Wu
Instruction Language:	Chinese
Comments:	This was the most challenging an probably most helpful class I took while there. The professor taught it more like a lecture but still provided good speaking opportunities. She was charismatic, interested and extremely knowledgable in the subject area!
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Environment and Development
Course Department:	Chinese
Instructor:	Yang
Instruction Language:	Chinese
Comments:	Loved all the out of class opportunities to explore how this stuff connected to things happening in Kunming!
Credit Transfer Issues: