Visit the pomegranate Past Review

By A student (Geology, Rice University) - abroad from 08/30/2015 to 12/19/2015 with

Arcadia: Granada - Arcadia in Granada

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

I learned about Spanish culture. It was worthwhile but I wonder if my time would have been better spent by either complete immersion or course more directly applicable to my major.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program?	2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.	A variety of mainly humanities courses available for varying levels of Spanish speakers at the CLM. Arcadia offers some interesting environmental studies classes.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program	Managed most stuff well. Sometimes did not give details of trips/activities til last minute.
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	Lived with a host family, very friendly, cooked all meals and did laundry, spoke Spanish at all times.
* Food:
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	Family made me feel welcome, limited contact with Spaniards my age, but could have if I had taken more initiative.
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?	Didn't have health issues, no extra vaccines needed. Medical assistance available.
* Safety:
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program?	Yes Maybe. It was fun. Most Granada programs are in conjunction with CLM, regardless of provider.

Finances

* 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)	Family or Arcadia provided nearly all meals. Most expenses discretionary or travel related.
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	10 euros
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	eat tapas and bocadillos

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component?	Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language? 0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language	All the students spoke English when we were together. Directors claimed that they would speak almost exclusively Spanish and that it would be mandatory in the center, but that was not the case. If I had chosen more CLM classes, I would have gotten more Spanish.
How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program?	Advanced
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?	Spanish literature (300 level)
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 your host families, and go to intercambios (organized or self-arranged social meet-ups between English and Spanish speakers to practice languages.)

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Host Family
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Americans Host Family
* Who did you take classes with? Select all that apply	Americans International Students
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?	Granada activities/ excursions homestay
* What could be improved?	organization immersion visa application process
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	If you are going to be in the country more than 90 days, you will need to apply for a student visa in person, in a consulate that may be very far away from where you are within a time window of 1.5-3 months before you leave or send an authorized representative.

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 Avid Adventurer The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	Environmental Politics of the EU
Course Department:	Arcadia
Instructor:	Teresa Fajardo
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	completely disorganized
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Renewable Energy: Wind, Solar, Wave
Course Department:	Arcadia
Instructor:	Alberto Cazorla
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	Class covered interesting topics and gave a good overview of the diverse types of renewable energy. We went on a great field trip to a solar research facility.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Atmospheric Processes and Climate Change
Course Department:	Arcadia
Instructor:	Gloria Titos
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	A good look at atmospheric science. We visited an atmospheric monitoring station in a marsh.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Ecosystems of Andalusia
Course Department:	Arcadia
Instructor:	Jorge Castro and Alexandro Leverkus
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	Take for the field trips. There are three, two to mountains, one to too many places to see in the time given but included several wetlands.
Credit Transfer Issues: