I love skiing more than anything, honestly. This was an great opportunity to combine an amazing academic experience and my passion. Twenty months of winter straight sounded fun to me. Not only that but it was a highly rated academic school with a strong presence of exchange students. Seemed like he perfect place for me.
Alumni Spotlight: Madison Bohling
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A young woman from Colorado that attends Montana State Univeristy. Went abroad in 2018 to Univeristy of Canterbury in New Zealand.
Why did you choose this program?
What did your program provider assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?
I did most of the stuff on my own. I had a lot of help with questions and such from my academic advisor, Claire, at Montana State, but I personally kept track of deadlines and such for most stuff. It wasn’t difficult by any degree. All the steps were straightforward. Not difficult at all. If you do need help, feel free to ask anyone! Everyone is here to support.
What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?
Be outgoing. Go for every opportunity and be enthusiastic. Kiwi’s are like a coconut. They’re of a hard exterior, but once they open up, they can be the kindest people. Going for every opportunity will make the experience worthwhile. Also go out of your way to make friends who are natives. Try not to get stuck only being friends with other exchange students.
What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?
Oh gosh. There is no average week. It’s anything from skiing 4 days a week to going whitewater kayaking on a Tuesday. It’s a wild and fun experience with so many adventures. Sure, there we’re some times when school happened, but those are forgettable memories. It’s the times off campus that make this school special.
Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?
Honestly, my biggest fear was my ability to make meaningful and deep connections with new people. I quickly got over it when, on the first day of orientation, I met one of my lifelong friends. He made me instantly realize that the experience was going to be a good one. Other than that, I felt well prepared for the whole experience.
What are some of your favorite slang words?
I actually have a list, so here they are:
Heaps
Vessel
Yarn = a funny little chat
Keen
Amongst
Can’t be bothered
Reckon
Papers=classes