Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Barcelona: A semester of a limetime Past Review

By (Fordham University) - abroad from 01/15/2012 to 06/09/2012 with

CIEE: Barcelona - Advanced Liberal Arts

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was totally worthwhile! I learned so much about myself. I gained a different perspective to view things and being able to compare government, politics, and culture between two countries was what I hoped to gain and I did.

Personal Information

If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: University of Barcelona
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.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

You don't find out who your host family is until the day they go pick you up.

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

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)

Barcelona is a pretty expensive city

* Was housing included in your program cost? Yes
* Was food included in your program cost? Yes
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $80
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Be smart about what you are going to be spending money on. it is not necessary to be eating out every night

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? Fluent
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Fluent
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? exit level Spanish
How many hours per day did you use the language? 10+
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Don't be embarrassed about speaking and be open to learning Catalan

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

  • Local Students
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?
  • Barcelona is a beautiful city full of culture, art, history, fun and love.
  • Being directly enrolled at the UB is an experience not a lot of study abroad students get to have.
  • When you talk about being fully emerged in a different culture no other program can do it better.
* What could be improved?
  • I wish I would have known who my host family was before I got there.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? The education system was completely different than what I am used to. The professors didn't bother to learn your name or know who you were and the classes are very fast paced. But it was a great experience to be directly enrolled with other Spanish students.