South Island Adventures Past Review

By A student (Middlebury College) - abroad from 02/20/2017 to 06/22/2017 with

University of Otago, New Zealand: Study Abroad Programme

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

I loved being able to explore the South Island - it is unbelievably beautiful. The people I met along the way were great. Being at a larger university was also valuable. I felt that I was able to focus my time/attention on subject material that I was interested in.

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.	I enjoyed my courses, but it was stressful having final exams that decided your grade.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	I lived in a flat with 3 other students from the US and 1 student from New Zealand (also called a "Kiwi Host"). I loved having a Kiwi Host and my time in NZ wouldn't have been the same without her.
* Food:	I cooked the majority of the food that I ate. However, there are also decent food options close to campus. Groceries are expensive.
* 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

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)	Groceries were expensive. Also gas prices make it expensive to travel on the weekends.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component?	No

Direct Enrollment/Exchange

* Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university?	Direct Enrollment

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Other
* 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?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?	Exploring the South Island
* What could be improved?	More Exposure to Local Students
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	Cost of living is expensive.

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:	Justice, Race, and Class
Course Department:	Psychology
Instructor:	James Flynn
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	Wonderful course. The material was very interesting and Flynn was incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about the subject. By far, this was my favorite class that I took at Otago.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Introduction to Hinduism and Buddhism
Course Department:	Religion
Instructor:
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	Interesting and engaging class. Clear expectations from the lecturers.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Philosophy of Science
Course Department:	Philosophy
Instructor:	Timothy Smith
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	The course is a little dry. However, still worthwhile.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Maori Society
Course Department:
Instructor:
Instruction Language:
Comments:	I was really looking forward to this class, but I was disappointed. The class was taught by multiple lecturers and it was very unorganized. The tutorials were very painful to sit through and I didn't feel that my tutorial instructor was very knowledgeable in the subject material.
Credit Transfer Issues: