Past Review
By Mikaela M (Health and Medical Administrative Services., Providence College) for
CIEE: Seville - Liberal Arts
Going abroad has helped me truly grow into myself. I can now confidently enter any situation and know that I have the skills that are necessary to succeed. I also now understand and truly know that the world is a very large place and each person has their own perspective and way of experiencing it.
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. |
The grading system and attendance policy was very different than those of the U.S. I found that while attendance was more lenient, the grading was much harder in Spain. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I truly appreciate the enthusiasm and patience my program administrators had when dealing with foreign students. The class sizes were small, allowing students to develop relationships with professors, which proved to be very integral in the learning process while abroad. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived in a dorm called Santa Ana. The rooms were small, but the location was amazing. Living with a local Spanish student was a truly interesting experience. I would recommend individuals that are searching for independence to live in a dorm style setting because it enable one to live according to their own schedule rather than a family's. <br /><br /> My dorm was in a great location that enabled me to walk to class quickly while also being near some of the popular restaurants and hang out spots. The beds were really uncomfortable but it was okay because the location was perfect. |
| * Food: |
The food wasn't good, but it was a part of the experience that all the residents shared. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I participated in La Feria de Abril, which is the spring festival in Spain. I celebrated with good food, dancing, and family during this time and got to truly sense the cultural traditions of Feria. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I felt very safe in my college dorm and I knew I had access to health facilities if I needed them. |
| 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? | Save as much money as you possibly can before you go to Spain because every step you take costs money and you dont want to miss out on any of the amazing opportunities that Europe has to offer at this point in your young adult life. |
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? |
Before studying in Spain, my Spanish was average. After living and studying in Sevilla for four months, I feel as though I am fluent both conversationally and academically. By living in the college dorms offered through the CIEE program I was able to befriend local Spanish students as well as foreign students, allowing me to communicate daily in Spanish in a relaxed environment. |
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? | Anyone would have an amazing experience abroad. The ciee program itself provides a fun and layed back learning environment that draws fun loving kids from all over the country. I had an amazing experience and learned so much about myself, as well as about the Spanish culture. |
