As told by Philip Williams (NYMP13)
“To be honest, my experience at Middlebury so far encompasses a lot. All in all I love my time here. Middlebury is everything that I expected it to be and more than I could have hoped for. Are classes kicking my ass? Yes, and they are doing a thorough job of it but that is part of the thrill. I have work that I am interested in and my professors are all quite competent and intelligent.
As Told by Carlos M. Beato (NYMP5)
“It was over five years ago when I first embarked on a study abroad journey that would change my life forever. While I matured in the most basic of aspects, I also had to learn how to deal with the issues of race, socio-economic status and culture.
In a country that claims to be so [civilly] advanced, the division of race and class in Spain was one that caught my attention. I found out in the very beginning that my not being white would not only affect where I could live but I was often granted access to certain neighborhoods only when I mentioned that I was an American student from the United States. Never in my life have I felt that I was not wanted and it was through this experience of searching for a “piso” in Spain that made these feelings a reality. While it helped that I spoke Spanish well over the phone, it was not until I visited many of these potential living spaces that I experienced firsthand the Spaniard’s actual reactions to my darker skin color. Nevertheless, this experience prepared me for other similar situations [during my time in Spain] that would eventually warrant me to question my identity. Continue reading