My Magical Experience in Granada Past Review
By Kelley O (Spanish Education, Illinois State University) for
CEA CAPA Education Abroad: Granada, Spain
My study abroad experience was MORE than worthwhile. I came here very nervous, and am now leaving as a confident adult. I have gained the ability to navigate myself around an unknown city, handle stressful situations, deal with indescribably gross hostels, and appreciate different cultures. I plan to return ASAP.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I was lucky with my classes and did not have a lot of homework to do. However, my friends always seemed to have a lot of papers so I think this is rare. I see nothing wrong with the grading system, and all of my professors were extremely friendly and easy to understand at all times. A big difference between their system here opposed to school at home is that they don't tell you exactly what they want for a project/paper/assignment/test/etc. They just give the assignment, and that's it. It sounds stressful, but they are usually very easy graders. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
My program was fantastic- they provided great excursions, and were always very helpful. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My homestay has pros and cons. Firstly, I adore my senora. She is friendly, cooks the best meals, cleans, and is always willing to talk. Cons: the apartment is pretty far from the center of the city where everything is located, and the showers were always cold. |
| * Food: |
I am always given more than enough food, and I suggest for everyone to go to Bib Rambla for churros con chocolate, and Paramos for a fun local bar! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Our program took us on an unforgettable weekend to Lagos, Portugal that I greatly enjoyed. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I always felt fairly safe. If you don't look for trouble, it shouldn't be a problem. |
| 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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | About 20 per week. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Euros seem strangely similar to Monopoly money and therefore it may be hard to realize you're actually spending quite a lot. You've been warned. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Level 6 |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
Living in a homestay improved my Spanish dramatically since I was literally forced to speak everyday. Classes also helped, and it's very easy to find an intercambio (a person you meet up with to practice speaking..usually they are looking to practice their English so it works out.) |
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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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? | If you are going to study abroad, you need to realize that at times, you WILL be out of your comfort zone- but with that comes the beauty of maturing and adventure. All of the struggles make the experience even more rewarding and special. My words of wisdom are: don't take this short time for granted, and do everything and anything (even the things that scare you) or you else you'll regret it! You MUST come here with an open mind, and have an eager heart to see what this beautiful world has to offer. |
