Granada Past Review
By Elizabeth N (Political Science and Government., Villanova University) - abroad from 08/31/2012 to 12/21/2012 with
Arcadia: Granada - Arcadia in Granada
I loved living in Europe, especially Granada. It was absolutely worthwhile if even just for my use of Spanish, but it was an amazing experience.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The classes at the Centro de Lenguas Modernas were fantastic. The teachers were fun and helpful, and I learned a lot. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The staff was super nice and the intern, Sergio, was really helpful with cultural information. As a whole, the staff were really caring, but I feel that they could have been more helpful. The housing director could have done a way better job i.e. check in on us. She was aware that my host parents were getting a divorce, and not even then did she ask if I was okay. Also, the intercambios were not thoughtfully set up. They were older men who were friends of the staff, and were not comfortable or helpful. I asked to volunteer once I got there, and didn't start my program until November. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
While being in the center of the city was nice, the family that I lived with was awful. I brought the situation up to the housing director and the family will no longer be used, but it should never have happened in the first place. The parents got a divorce while I was there, and no one told me or the other student. Then another woman moved in who was prescribed morphine and was constantly high. When she wasn't high, she was being rude to me or betraying my trust. When the mother lived there, she stopped feeding us. The father got the house in the divorce, so when he moved back in we started getting fed again, but he was condescending and obviously didn't care about us. All he cared about was the money, and when he found out that he wasn't getting any more students he stopped pretending to care. My room was cleaned maybe about 3-4 times over the semester by the cleaning lady (versus every week) and I did my own laundry. I cannot speak officially for others, but I have heard other bad stories from Arcadia students about the host families as well as the apartments. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The intercambios weren't well planned, and there weren't any other opportunities to get to know Spaniards. |
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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? |
No
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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) |
Granada was very cheap. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | It all depended, but less than 30 Euros usually. |
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 |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | intermediate Spanish |
| 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? | Live with international students, this way you have to speak the language, you live on your own, and you make friends. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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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? | 0 |
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? | That I should not have done a homestay, and to go out on your own to get involved. |
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. |
