Salamanca: understanding the "working to live instead of living to work" Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The modular courses had the same level of rigor as lower-level high school classes.

On-site administration of your program

The location was convenient and had an open environment for students to visit, ask questions, receive information and resources.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

My host mom was very dedicated to her job of hosting students. The apartment where I lived was close to the center of the city which was convenient since we walked everywhere. Also, living with roommates from different programs gave me the opportunity to meet people from all over the world.

My host mom was an excellent cook and introduced us to many traditional Spanish foods, such as tortilla, arroz con pollo, a variety of Spanish salads, etc.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The culture in Salamanca is built upon its history with the University and the students who attend. As a student in Salamanca, there were many opportunities to integrate into the culture, including language exchange partners, student discounts, and restaurants and cafes that cater specifically to students. Also, I felt that the society was very welcoming to foreigners, especially the lifestyle of students.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I had two instances where I needed to address health issues and my program director was able to give me medication and pharmacy information.

The saying "you can never be too careful" definitely applied to this situation, as I had to learn to adapt to a culture where pickpockets are common and walking around at night alone is discouraged. I became accustomed to holding my purse in front of me and making sure someone knew where I was at all times. By the end of the first few weeks, I was comfortable in Salamanca, but when traveling to a new city, it was always good to be careful.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Meals were included through my program which was very helpful for my expenses. Going out for coffee or tapas was an affordable way to experience the food in the Spanish culture.

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

My program offered intercambio meetings where spanish speakers and english speakers pair up for a language exchange. I met many Spanish friends this way.

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• Host Family

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• Americans

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• Americans

• The opportunity to volunteer in schools.
• They took into consideration the groups' interests, for example: wine tasting and a private flamenco show were added throughout the semester.
• The duration and opportunity to live with a host family.

• The modular courses were not very challenging.
• A resource for traveling tips for unexperienced travelers.