The best 4 months of my life! Past Review
By Dominika Charczuk (Eastern Illinois University) - abroad from 01/09/2017 to 04/26/2017 with
API (Academic Programs International): Barcelona - Universitat Pompeu Fabra
I learned a lot about Spain and her culture. I also became more fluent in Spanish. I got to travel a lot. It was definitely worthwhile.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My host mom was phenomenal! Such a sweet lady. |
| * Food: |
Amazing ethnic food! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Barcelona had a lot of tourists therefore there was a lot of English spoken. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I have received so much support from the API program as well as my host family. I couldn't have asked for better people to be abroad with. |
Finances
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* 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) |
I traveled a lot, therefore I spent more than I intended to. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | not sure |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Set up a budget and stick to it. It's so easy to splurge money when in a foreign country because you keep thinking that you can't get certain things at home. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
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| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Advanced |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Talk to locals in their native language as much as possible. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? | 10+ |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I wish I knew a little bit more about the culture of Catalunya and the reasons why they want independence from Spain |
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 Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
