Moscow is great, but not challenging enough Past Review
By Leora Eisenberg (Princeton University) - abroad from 01/08/2019 to 04/25/2019 with
Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Moscow
I learned about Russian history... as a historian of the USSR, this was invaluable
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Not hard enough!!! Perhaps this is because I am a heritage Russian speaker, but I never felt like I was being academically challenged enough |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Shushana and Nana are great |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Dorms were fine -- didn't love the dorm administration, but there's nothing to be done there |
| * Food: |
This is not relevant to me but I don't know how to mark n/a |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Hard to say. I felt very integrated on the one hand because no one could tell I'm not a local, but on the other I often felt that Muscovite culture didn't want me in Moscow |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
The one time that I felt very sick, Shushana was very ready to help |
| * Safety: |
Women, be careful -- don't walk around alone at night and be prepared for occasional catcalling |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I probably would in large part because it's the most fairly priced and because it gives the most freedom, but I do wish it were more academically rigorous |
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) |
super easy |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $150-200 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | yes -- don't eat out every day, scout the area for cheap eats, buy in bulk. Moscow is cheap, so this shouldn't be a major problem |
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? | Fluent |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Fluent |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | n/a |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 10+ |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
| 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? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I wish I knew that Muscovites are not so nice... |
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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
