Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Barcelona: MORE Than The Time Of My Life! Past Review

By (Art History, Criticism and Conservation., The University of Texas at Austin) for

CIEE: Barcelona - Language and Culture

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
YES YES YES a thousand times YES! I came back a more independent, confident and just more globally aware human being and without studying abroad I could never have said that.

Personal Information

If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: Universitat Pompeu Fabre
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

I loved everything about my program. Someone was always there when I needed help, everything was very organized and it was the perfect size. I was able to make friends with kids from the four other parts of my program because we all lived together.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

To be honest, we cooked at home a lot. There was a small supermercado next door so we all usually picked up all the groceries we needed as we walked home from class.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I went to Madrid with my program and it was absolutely amazing. We also visited Toledo. We took a lot of day trips, like our trip to Besalu and Figueres where we were able to go to the Dali museum which was incredible.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

Heavy crime is almost non existent in Barcelona. However, because of the political and economic situation there, the pick-pocketing is awful. You have to watch your things at all times. Boys do NOT carry anything in your back pocket. Girls, always have a cross body bag that has a zipper on it and always be holding the closure, especially in the metro and in high tourist areas. If you are out at a club always have a hand on your bag and boys, keep your hands in your pockets. One time my friend reached inside his pocket and found someone else's hand in it instead! I never got very sick while I was abroad but my friends that did, my program was very prompt at making them doctor's appointments and getting them the help they needed.

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)

Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Students that lived in homestays received at least two meals cooked for them a day where as students that lived in dorms had to cook their own food, although the price we payed did not differ. I think that it should cost a little bit less for students living in dorms to compensate for having to buy their own food.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Intermediate
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? I had taken Spanish all four years of high school and decided to start over when I got to college so I completed SPN 601D the semester before I went abroad.
If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition?

Language acquisition improvement?

I practiced my language with people everywhere. While a lot of people did speak English, usually my Spanish was better than their English so it was much easier simply to talk in Spanish. Also, people tended to be nicer towards you and were more willing to help you if you spoke to them in Spanish.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
  • Local Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans

A Look Back

* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? My words of wisdom is DO IT! None of my other friends who went abroad to Barcelona like their program half as much as I liked mine. They all wish that they had done my program and whenever other students ask them about their time abroad and about their program and if they should do it or not, they all send them my way so I can talk about how incredible my experience was! And travel a ton! I tried to travel within Spain during the semester as I wanted to learn about all the different cultures of Spain and then I backpacked around Europe for three and half weeks after. This enabled me to travel Europe but it also allowed me to experience all the different aspects of Spain. GO TO FESTIVALS! These are what make Spain sooooo great! Las Fallas in Valencia is a must!

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Between Tolerance and Conflict: Jews, Christians and Muslims in the Iberian Peninsula
Course Department: HIS 329S
Instructor: Victor Farías Zurita
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Most interesting and favorite class I have EVER taken in college. I absolutely loved my professor and he was so knowledgable about the subject matter and had this amazing energy that was contagious.
Credit Transfer Issues: No
Course Name/Rating:

Art and Identity in the Americas
Course Department: ?
Instructor: Marta Anton
Instruction Language: English
Comments: The heaviest workload out of all of my classes abroad as well as some here at UT. A LOT of reading. A LOT of work.
Credit Transfer Issues: No
Course Name/Rating:

Catalonia and Spain Through the Arts
Course Department: ARH 329Q
Instructor: Meritxel
Instruction Language: English
Comments: It was probably one of my favorite classes while abroad.
Credit Transfer Issues: No
Course Name/Rating:

Intermediate Spanish
Course Department: SPN 610D
Instructor: Adelina
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: I did not find the course challenging, however many other students did. We went to visit the local markets to use of our Spanish. I think I participated more often than I would have at my home university.
Credit Transfer Issues: No