Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Wow. January 05, 2023

By (International and Global Studies, Middlebury College) - abroad from 10/03/2022 to 12/23/2022 with

Sea Education Association: Sustainability in Pacific Island Communities and Ecosystems

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
So worthwhile. The shore component on Tahiti, Mo'orea, and Huahine, as well as our many port stops, allowed us to meet individuals and truly experience the place, particularly due to Dr. Josiane DiGiorgio, who was the most wonderful professor and lived on the island of Huahine. Furthermore, the opportunity to learn to sail and be a part of a tall ship's crew was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. From doing dishes in the hot and sweaty galley, to deploying scientific equipment, to taking the helm and literally steering the ship, to identifying constellations and learning how to use a sextant, to bouncing out of your bunk as you try to catch at least a few hours of sleep before your next watch, I truly have never worked so hard and had so much fun doing it. This program was difficult, inspiring, life-changing, and an experience filled with gratitude and the most amazing group of people on earth.

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

Amazing. We visited seven islands and atolls, including Tahiti, Mo'orea, Huahine, Rangiroa, Nuku Hiva, Ua Huka, and Raroia.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

Much of our program was about experiencing the creation and consumption of local food--it was a truly incredible experience.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I didn't have a personal experience with healthcare while abroad; however, we had a medical officer aboard who was amazing.

* Safety:

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

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)

Most of the program expenses were already taken care of for us.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
  • Other
  • Hotel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* 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?
  • The program's students and all the individuals we had the opportunity to meet abroad
  • Our time in Fare Hape, Tahiti, a cultural center in the mountains of the island. We spent a week there and had the chance to work on archaeological sites, learn about plants and their uses, learn about legends and the history of the place, create a feast in an umu (traditional earth oven), and hike to waterfalls and rivers filled with amazing creatures (so many eels!)
  • The food!
* What could be improved?
  • The shore component in Woods Hole, MA. It was a bit long and disjointed from the actual experience abroad.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Bring more t-shirts than you think you will need--you will get very dirty and not have the opportunity to wash your clothes very often:)

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:

Nautical Science
Course Department:
Instructor:
Instruction Language:
Comments: This class was AWESOME. Hands-on, difficult, and worked different parts of my brain than I am used to.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Marine Environmental History
Course Department:
Instructor:
Instruction Language:
Comments: Amazing in-class discussions. Students and professors came prepared with various perspectives, which led to fascinating conversations. The fact that we had these discussions on the quarter-deck of a tall ship in the middle of the South Pacific only added to that:)
Credit Transfer Issues: