Barcelona: I am coming back soon. Past Review
By Matthew J (Finance and Financial Management Services., Providence College) for
CIEE: Barcelona - Business & Culture
yes
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Overall the educational experience was very good. I enjoyed the different style of teaching from professors abroad. I however was not too enthused about the grading system. It seemed that they were under the belief that in order to get an A, you had to be the #1 student in the country. Workload was considerably less overall compared to Providence, however I did have one class that requiered more work than any course I have ever taken at Providence (International Finance) |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Administration of my program was generally good. They set up many activities for us students to engulf ourselves in the culture. Whenever I had a problem I could go to the school and had the resources and help to get things done. The size was perfect. I felt like I could meet various people and bonded with new friends that I am sure to stay in touch with. One weekness of the program was in its housing selection process. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I was placed in a residencia. I was put in a small room by myself with only about 20 other kids from my program. When a majority of them complained about the living situaition they were allowed to move to the nicer location. However about 4 or 5 of us were stuck. I feel like those who lived in the other situation, where about 75 percent of my program lived had a generally better time and made more conenctions with those they lived with. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Barcelona was a great city and not once did I feel for my safety. I had one friend who got jumped, however he was walking home alone at 5am. I dont think that reflects the country because that happens everyewhere. |
| 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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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | laundry was about 5 euros or 7, 8 dollars |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
Most people in Barcelona spoke in English therefore it did not serve as a problem during day to day life. However our program taught a mandatory class in Spanish, set us up with Spanish local students to hangout with and learn more Spanish, and set up times where you could meet with locals to talk and better your language. |
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? | Go to Barcelona. Once in a life oppourtunity to spend all your money and not regret a minute of it. |
