Unreal, amazing, and life changing! Past Review
By A student (Managerial Economics, Bentley University) - abroad from 09/04/2012 to 12/13/2012 with
CIEE: Seville - Business + Society
I learned more of the language and a lot about myself as a person. I would do it over in a heartbeat.
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? |
While abroad i lived in a home stay. The first two months were enjoyable, aside from the horrible food. However, in November i was informed my host mother would be having heart surgery. She assured me it was minor surgery and she would be back before i left for the semester. She said her 36 year old son would take care of food, laundry, and cleaning services. I told her I felt a little uncomfortable with a young male i did not know entering the house without notice and whenever he pleased, as he did not live there. She dismissed my comments. Once she was in the hospital, her son proceeded to smoke inside of the house (i had requested a non-smoking homestay). He also did not make food regularly (he went four days in a row without feeding me once), and when he did feed me he would leave it for a minimum of three days for me too eat all meals from the same dish. He left the house in absolute shambles and did not clean it either. I also did my own laudnry, because not only did i not feel comfortable with a 36 year old man touching my underwear, but he offered only once after it was too late. |
| * Food: |
My original host mother had horrible food/ cooking skills for the most part; however, my second host mother was a wonderful cook. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I fell in love and felt completely at home. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I felt very safe and only heard of one out of the usual incident where a friend of mine was targeted and attacked. This however was extremely rare, and as a whole Sevilla is a very safe city. Of course never walk alone at night, it is a city, use your brain. |
| 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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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 |
All classes were in Spanish and we were required to speak in Spanish when dealing with the program Administration. They constantly encouraged us to speak spanish. |
| 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? | Advanced |
| How many hours per day did you use the 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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| 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 feel as though i was well informed. I cant think of anything. |
