Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The workload was very manageable. In a couple classes, there wasn't really any outside reading at all, as long as you came to class, paid attention, and studied for the test, it was fine. Since the entire semester was based on just a few graded assignments and tests, there were one or two weeks where it could get intense, but after that, it was fine. The grading system is very different. It's very hard to get an A. The grade on a 1-9 grading system, so if you get a 7 or an 8 you're in the B area, and that's considered very good. The teaching method is lecture based, but professors enjoy comments. It's kind of intimidating though to speak up, especially if you're in a class full of Spanish students. The Spanish university also seemed to take a very hands-off approach to teaching. There were a lot of recommended reading lists that I couldn't really figure out if you were expected to read or not. The professors just let their students go into the subject as much as they want.

On-site administration of your program

The CIEE staff were accessible, although sometimes it seemed that it took a long time to get things done. For example, we weren't matriculated into the University of Barcelona until at least two weeks after we began classes, which meant we couldn't use the internet on campus, or use the university's online student resource. Another thing that really bothered me was that CIEE never told my host family that I was a vegetarian, even though I specifically said I was in my housing questionnaire, which really threw my host mom off guard. The staff was really nice though, and a lot of the staff were native Barcelonans, or at least Spanish so they knew both Barcelona and Spain very well. The Advanced Liberal Arts Program had only 46 students, which was so much better than some programs that could get as big as several hundred American students. Also, CIEE organized some great group day trips that were a lot of fun. They also had a weekend trip, and although I wasn't able to go, my friends all had a good time. Overall, I thought CIEE did a great job with providing and keeping up this program.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived on Avinguda Madrid, which marked the border between the neighborhoods of Les Corts and Sants. <br /><br /> I loved my host family! I lived with an older woman in her sixties, her mother who was in her eighties, and a dog named Taco. They were both incredibly kind and completely understood that as an American study abroad student, I was going out a lot and coming home really late. I think I was maybe the third or fourth American girl to have lived with them. I ate dinner with them almost every night (except for the nights I went out with friends), and they also provided me with breakfast every morning. My host mom even did my laundry about once a week! I didn't need to buy anything in order to settle in; everything was provided in the apartment. Obviously, it takes a while for people to become comfortable with each other in a living arrangement, but my host mom and grandmother treated me more like a family member than anything else. The only thing that really made me feel like a guest was that they never let me help with the dishes after dinner. My neighborhood was kind of far from the center, but it was an easy metro ride to both school and nightlife. I was also just a couple blocks away from the Barca stadium, so whenever there was a game, the area got exciting. It was in a newer part of the city, so not very pretty or historic, but seemed to attract a lot of older, retired people. At night, there weren't very many people out, but I never felt in danger, and the metro stop was only three or so short blocks away. I ended up loving my neighborhood! There was even a gym right next to my apartment, which I was able to join. My host mom barely knew any English, and my host grandmother didn't know any. They both spoke Catalan as well, and spoke it to each other. Sometimes my grandma would forget and speak to me in Catalan. I kind of liked this because I was able to pick up some of the language. Living with a host family really forced me to speak Spanish all the time when I was home, and I think it was a big factor in how much my Spanish improved.

I'm a vegetarian that also eats seafood. I didn't really have a lot of trouble finding vegetarian or seafood options. Still, when there's a bocadillo vegetal it is not just vegetables, it also has tuna, so strict vegetarians should watch out for that. Overall I really like Spanish and Catalan food. Nothing is spicy though, which was the only downside. Some of my favorite food/tapas were manchego cheese, pan con tomate, tortilla, patatas bravas, and pimientos al padron. There's a great little takeaway place right near the CIEE building that I got food at a lot. The cafeteria in the university isn't all that great, but if you make the effort there's a great pizza place up the block, and across the corner, one of my favorites was Cosmo Cafe. A place that everyone has to go in Barcelona is La Champañeria, also called Can Paixano's. Cheap, delicious sandwiches and super cheap, delicious cava.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Barcelona is full of history, amazing architecture, museums, parks, and restaurants. There is a lot of modernista architecture from the end of the 19th century and Gaudi's work such as La Sagrada Familia, Parc Guell, La Pedrera, Casa Batllo are incredible. Also Domenech i Montener's Palau de Musica was one of my favorite things I visited. The National Museum of Catalan Art has amazing Byzantine frescoes, as well as Baroque, Renaissance, and modern Catalan art. Also, the Picasso Museum should not be missed. If you like history, the History of Barcelona Museum has excavated Roman ruins. Montjuic is an amazing place and has an old fort, the olympic stadiums, and the Miró Foundation. Carnaval and the Festival of Saint Eulalia fall at the same time and are really fun. The main party for Carnaval happens in Sitges and is only a 40ish minute train ride away. Also, Barcelona has a crazy nightlife! There is something to do every night- it's almost impossible to stay in. There are so many fun bars and clubs, I was trying new places up until my last week. Most have a cover fee though, so make sure you get on a facebook list so you can get into certain clubs for free on certain nights. CIEE took us to the Dali museum in northern Catalunya, brought us to a traditional catalan meal of calcotada (which might have been my favorite field trip), and took us to see and participate in the castellers, who make human towers.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I always felt relatively safe in Barcelona. The city never sleeps so it's very rare that you're the only person on the street, or waiting for the bus or metro late at night. The main safety issue the city has is pickpocketing. I was lucky enough to never have anything stolen, but I have a lot of friends who got pickpocketed, and some even twice. Only once was I with a friend when she got flat out robbed. We were walking in a group and some kid ran up and literally yanked her purse off her arm so hard the strap broke. Really though, it's just like the U.S. There are some areas you know not to go to alone or at night, but I never heard of anyone getting attacked. My advice is: when you go out at night, don't bring your credit/debit/atm cards and bring a little more cash than you think you need but not too much. I never got sick so I don't have any experience with their healthcare, but from what I could tell from my friends, the doctors were comparable to what we have here.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

I spoke Spanish as much as a could. The majority of my friends were Americans and although we all spoke English to each other, we made the effort to speak Spanish with the Catalans and other Spaniards or foreigners we met. In my day to day interactions, I definitely used Spanish all the time. I also lived with a host family who didn't speak any English, so I spoke Spanish everyday at home with them. Most people, however, do know English, and when they realize that you're a foreigner and American, they usually answer you in English. Once you respond in Spanish though, they normally start speaking Spanish again.

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• Host Family

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• Host Family

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• Americans