178 Days of Cádiz Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The main reason I chose the API program in Cádiz was because I wanted a program that would challenge me academically and encourage me to use my Spanish. The integrated nature of the program allowed me to be in the classroom with other Spanish students and immerse myself in their learning.

On-site administration of your program

Vicky is honestly amazing! She works so hard and gives her all to the program. You can tell that she plans everything with so much care. Her dedication and continual effort to improve the program is one of the main reasons why the transition to Cádiz was so easy. Additionally, she always made sure that the student's needs were met, be it medical or something as simple as knowing where to shop. She made herself available as much as possible. Never had I met someone as selfless and kind as her.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived with a host family and I can't imagine living any other way. I feel like choosing to live with a family provided me with the most immersive experience where I ate typical Spaniard food and lived a typical Spaniard life. Additionally, living with a family made me feel connected to people as well as minimized my home sickness. Mama Isabel was also so kind and did everything possible to support me and optimize my time there.

There are many things I loved about Spain, one of those things were tapas, which are a type of meal that was a collection of appetizers and snacks. Cádiz had many great places that offered an array of food and tapas. There also was the market that offered fresh fruits, vegetables, and fish, since Cádiz is a beach town. Additionally, the meals my host mom cooked were delicious and tended to be typical Spanish cuisines. Overall, every meal I had was a good one, which is a lot to say for me because I am a rather picky eater.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Due to the nature of the program I felt pretty integrated in to the local culture. I made friends with the members of my host family and made many friends in my classroom. These friendships then connected me to the social scene of Cádiz. All this to say that living with a host family as well as taking courses directly with students allowed me to make connection. Additionally, the size of Cádiz made it easy to explore and interact with the community directly.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Fortunately I didn't need any healthcare service for the worst thing I went through were allergies in the spring. However, for these little things Vicky was extremely helpful in pointing me in the right direction and guiding me through any process I needed to go through.

I visited many cities and gotten to walk through many streets, but not once did I ever feel unsafe in Cádiz. Overall, Cádiz is a pretty safe place, especially the old part where the university and the program is located at. However, that is not to say that one shouldn't practice precautions such as keeping important items on them instead of bags, not carrying too much cash on you, walking with a friend late at night, and letting people know where you are going if you're traveling. Just because a place is safe doesn't mean you should be careless.

Studying abroad was not what I expected and yet it still was such a transforming experience. Everyday I was there was a learning experience. The highs and the lows are what allowed me to grow and discover my independence. It introduced me to a world that I only knew through the pages of a book and the images on a screen. It also made me realize how much I love traveling and my desire to explore the world more.

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

I feel like if you plan accordingly and are able to manage your money well, Cádiz is a pretty affordable place. The reason I spent more while there was because I also used my budget to travel as well, but that is a bit of an outlying factor. Furthermore, money I spent were on optional things like clothes and souvenirs, very little was spent on basic necessities. However, Cádiz itself is affordable in my opinion. Additionally, with a host family providing you with three meals a day you don't need to spend money for food.

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

Since it is an integrated Spanish program there isn't much opportunity to speak English outside of your program friend group. Additionally, it is heavily encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity to improve your Spanish speaking skills.

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• Host Family

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• Host Family

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• Local Students

• The length of the program
• Living in a small beach town
• The excursions organized by the program and made available to us.

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