It was life-altering, beautiful, and indescribable! Past Review
By Mollie K (Central College) - abroad from 01/12/2013 to 05/24/2013 with
Central College Abroad: Granada - University of Granada
Confidence and contentment in being alone. (not in a depressing sort of way) I just learned that to enjoy the moments walking to school and appreciate the way the sun hit the mountains. I learned that I love travel, but I also love my hometown. There are things about every location that are unique and beautiful. It was definitely worthwhile.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
the classes were has challenging as you want them to be, because the more involved in class you were in terms of completing homework and answering questions, the more you improved Spanish knowledge |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Veronica is incredible! She will bend over backwards to help you with anything. She loves connecting with students and helping them connect with the culture. It is very evident that her main goal is to help the students, and to help them understand Spanish culture and learn the Andalucian Spanish. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The host families were amazing!! My host mother was so kind, and so willing to help me with my Spanish! I was able to cook with her a couple times, and I truly felt like I was part of her family. Leaving her was one of the hardest things about leaving Spain. |
| * Food: |
My host mother was an incredible cook. She could literally make a full meal appear almost out of thin air, in a matter of minutes, and it was DELICIOUS! I miss the olives and olive oil so much! Tapas are incredible and probably my favorite way to eat! |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt that I was able to connect more with American students during school, and more international students when we went out at night. Getting to know Spaniards was a bit more of challenge, but the one's we did meet were awesome! One Spanish friend took us skiing in the Sierra Nevada. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I had to go to the hospital once for myself, and another time when my mom came to visit and both times the hospital was accessible and they did a good job. The main difference that I found was how long you have to wait, I had to wait almost 2 hours to be seen, but as soon as I got to the Doctor, I was in and out of his office in 20 minutes. When my mom had to go get stitches, everything was done very quickly and very sterile. I stayed with her as a translator, but I think she would have been fine because the staff knew some English. My mom is also a nurse and was very impressed at the hospital staff. |
| * Safety: |
I tried to always keep my money in zipper-topped purse,so that it was harder to get into, however I never felt uneasy about having it. There was one night that I felt uneasy walking home, so a guy friend came with me. I heard that a couple people had their phones stolen when out at a club, but that is always a risk no matter the country. It is just using common sense, and being careful, no matter where you are traveling. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
|
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) |
|
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | BUDGET! Once you get to the country and find out how much things cost, create a budget for yourself. In the end you will be grateful that you took 20 minutes to budget in the beginning. Also, be conscious that the Euro is worth more than the US dollar. When budgeting to travel in Europe be sure to factor in the cost of travel, lodging, food, souvenirs, and then add an extra 100 dollars to that for emergencies. |
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 |
|
| 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? | Intermediate |
| 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? | I found that spending time with my host family was the best way to learn Spanish, because they could teach you slang and everyday terms. One of the best evenings was when I spent time talking with the 7 year-old niece. She was having a blast teaching me pronunciation and spelling and then we played a language game. It was so much fun! |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
| 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? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | To bring good shoes, because the streets will attack your shoes because of all the walking that you do. |
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. |
