I wish I could go back to Madrid! Past Review
By Natalia Gonzalez (Brandeis University) - abroad from 01/16/2017 to 06/02/2018 with
CIEE: Madrid - Liberal Arts
I was able to work on my academic Spanish as well as learn what its like to live in a European city.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
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 |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
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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: |
Madrid is infamous for pick pocketing. Always make sure to keep your purse/wallet/phone close by. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
The staff was extremely supportive and my host family was incredible. I felt like part of the family! |
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) |
1 but that's because I traveled a lot around Europe. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Probably 200 euros. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Eat at home as much as you can! |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
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| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| 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? | A Latin American Literature course. |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Make a point to be extra friendly with people who work service type jobs, so for example, ask your waiter/barista how their day is going. It can spark a lengthy conversation and it's good practice! |
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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| 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? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I wish I knew more of how the university/academic/grading system was in Spain compared to the USA. |
