My wonderful experience in Granada Past Review
By Amanda K (International Business., Illinois State University) for
CEA CAPA Education Abroad: Granada, Spain
My experience abroad could have been nothing more than amazing. It gave me a different outlook on life and broadened my horizons. I now look forward to sharing my experience with other people and recommend each and every person to travel and discover the world.
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 grading system seemed a lot more simple than the grading at Illinois State. The work wasn't that hard it was just the teaching methods provided by our teacher weren't that great. Our teacher didn't explain the curicculum well and us as foreign students were a bit out of the loop in the beginning. Luckily we managed to pull through. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The program could have had more people, the more people the better. However, there is nothing that could be changed considering everything that was done was perfect. The staff, specifically Inma from CEA was so wonderful and great. The program did show us A LOT about the culture and I am proud to say that I was a student through CEA |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
housing was great! great location.. just a bit hot during the day since there was no a/c and it was very hot during the month of june. I can't complain though it was the cutest convenience for being abroad. |
| * Food: |
TAPAs.. soo good! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
the alhambra in Granada, Morrocco, Nerja Beach, Lagos Portugal, Churros con chocolate in granada, soccar games, experiencing the night life, tapas and dinner at 11 oclock at nite, Everything was absolutely amazing. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Granada was a very safe place to me. We all made sure to walk each other home and make sure everyone was with us whenever we were out. Our apartment had a huge lock to get in and a speaker for whoever was to ring us. Safety was great. |
| 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 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Keeping in mind that the euro is worth more than the dollar, I spent close to 200$ within a week and a half. I was also traveling so that is why I spent that much. BUt with buying groceries and makeing food at home I managed to spend about 50-100 euro a week. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | if your living in an apt, buy groceries. Try to find cheap places to go while being aborad and if your quite the drinker or partier, make sure you pregame with a cheap bottle of wine or beer before you decide to pay a cover and drink the 6 euro or more drinks at the discotecas. Try to bargain at bargaining places and keep in mind that you always want to make sure you don't run out! |
Language
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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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 do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | If you love to walk around, hike, be outdoors, go to class and then relax with a siesta break during the middle of the day, go to Granada. If you enjoy small towns, wild nightlife, romantic evenings, cobblestoned alleys and roads, churches, panoramic views of castles, mountains upon mountains, go to Granada. |
