The most amazing summer I have had by far and I cannot wait to go back to Spain! Past Review
By Olivia T (Finance and Financial Management Services., University of Texas - San Antonio) - abroad from 05/31/2012 to 07/13/2012 with
API (Academic Programs International): San Joaquin de Flores - Instituto San Joaquin De Flores
I was a very refreshing experience. I learned so much about spanish culture. By taking a spanish course and having to use it daily helped me learn spanish quickly. I wished I could have stayed longer than six weeks.
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | Spanish level 1 International Economics |
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
My spanish professor was amazing he made it fun and interesting to learn. I learned more spanish than I have spending 2 years in high school trying to learn it. International economics was an interesting class but the professors made everything way more complex and confusing than it should have been. The assignment and project instructions were very broad. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
They were very helpful when I asked for tips on traveling on weekends. There were other incidents with students in the program that I heard about. With the housing if you did not get along with you host family there were additional fees if you wanted to move into an apartment. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The cost of the program was very pricey. Many other students who rented their own apartments paid less. But our apartment was the in the most amazing location. It was right in front of the Barcelona Cathedral. There were 7 girls in the flat but it was a pretty large apartment. |
| * Food: |
We cooked or went out to eat because we did not do home stay. The food when we went on the excursions with the program was amazing. We went to very nice restaurants. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
It was hard to get around if you were not with someone who spoke spanish. Majority of the locals do not speak english. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Nothing happened to me but it was very common to hear about people getting mugged or pick pocketed. Never travel alone and always be aware especially if you are a girl. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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 managed to spend 10-20 dollars a day eating since I went to the groceries. On the weekends I spend 30-50 a day going out and eating. |
| * Was housing included in your program cost? | Yes |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | No |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 200-300 dollars if I didnt not travel. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Go to the groceries instead of eating out everyday. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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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? |
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? | You can go with out a program and rent an apartment for a lot cheaper. |
