Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Paella, Playa y Party. Past Review

By (Spanish Language and Literature., Providence College) - abroad from 01/13/2013 to 05/11/2013 with

CIEE: Alicante - Liberal Arts

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned a lot about myself, my culture as well as other cultures. I became more independent and made incredible friendships. I learned so much both in and out of the classroom. Yes, it was worthwhile.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Most host families were incredible and my friends really enjoyed living with them. My family just sat around all day/night and watched tv. I also rarely ate meals with them which is supposed to be a major aspect of Spanish culture. My house keys were stolen on the beach at the end of the semester and apparently they had to replace everything (locks,keys) which cost me 350 euros. (Again, this is not a normal experience and I still recommend living with a host family)

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I made many Spanish friends and learned a lot about the culture. Everyone is very friendly and welcoming. By the end, I felt very much a part of the city.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

During non-touristy months the city is incredibly safe. I never ran into any problems. However, once tourists start to arrive in the warmer months, chances of being robbed greatly increase. Violence though is pretty much unheard of.

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 50-100 euros
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Plan your weekend and spring break trips well ahead of time and definitely try to maintain a budget. Bigger cities can get very expensive. It is relatively easy to find cheap flights or trains. Mercadona and other supermarkets offer a variety of very cheap yet delicious items that are great for snacks or meals instead of going to a restaurant all the time. Many restaurants also offer good deals like 100 montaditos or various tapas restaurants.

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? Advanced
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Spanish 322
How many hours per day did you use the language?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
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?
  • Program professors/directors/faculty
  • the city
  • camino de Santiago
* What could be improved?
  • host families (some)
  • work load (all at end of program)
  • price of camino de santiago (Alfonso)
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I expected the weather to get warmer a bit quicker than it did. It could get pretty windy and sometimes quite chilly.

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.