Middlebury School in Uruguay

I found my time in Montevideo to be immensely enjoyable. Montevideo is a great city to live in, because it has the positives of the city without being a hard to get around metropolis. It was easy to walk or take the bus system to whatever destination. While most Uruguayans felt that the city was unsafe, the other international students and I felt Montevideo was a safe city. If you take basic safety precautions, like not putting your phone in your back pocket, you should be okay. This program offers students the chance to study at various public and private universities in city while having an internship at a local organization or company as well. It was great to not only study but to learn about working life as well. Additionally, the support you will receive from staff and your host family while abroad strikes the perfect balance between caring for you and letting you be independent.

Overall, I had a good time. I was able to hone my Spanish skills, travel around a bit, get to know Montevideo, and learn to live the Uruguayan life. However, my first host family was an absolute disaster, which was an unfortunate stain on an otherwise mostly positive experience. My second housing situation was far better, though, and I was able to conclude my experience in a safe and comfortable environment.