Barcelona; Me encanta la mundo! Past Review
By KATHRYN T (Finance and Financial Management Services., Providence College) for
CIEE: Barcelona - Business & Culture
I would do it again in a heartbeat! I loved abroad and every aspect of it! It has increased my love of travel which I hope to continue doing!
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Everything was on "Spanish time" ( a bit more laid back ). There are serious differences between how organizations are run in the US and how they are run abroad. These differences were a source of frustration for me but not very detrimental. Overall the experience was great. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I seriously lucked out with my housing situation in Barcelona. I lived in an incredibly central location with an incredible host family. I felt 100% safe and I was located near CIEE center and metros and bus lines. My host family treated me like I was a part of the family. My meals and accommodation were incredible. I am still in close communication with my host mom and her children even 3 months after the program. My host family went well above and beyond their requirements with my stay! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The weekend trip to Seville was one of the best weekends I spent abroad! I seriously enjoyed the trip provided by CIEE. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I did get sick and was treated with my reimbursable insurance. I felt safe the whole time I was abroad. |
| 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? | Use cheap flight websites! Living with a host family was the best thing for my budget! |
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? |
Host family, professors, local students, other international students, at stores and local establishments |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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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? | DO IT! You will have a second guesses but go for it! Studying abroad was the best decision I ever made! It broadened my outlook on the world! |
