Sevilla Past Review
By Douglas T (Political Science and Government., Clark University) for
CIEE: Seville - Liberal Arts
New experiences are always worthwhile, and wherever one chooses to travel/study there is wisdom to be gained. Interestingly enough, whenever I go abroad I feel more patriotic than ever, often long for people with familiar values/ways of conducting themselves, and find myself starting sentences with "In America we...". This sort of approach to a foreign setting should of course be avoided at all costs- there are always many things to be learned from other cultures (including an awareness of my own "patriotic"/arrogant inclinations). The Spanish always make themselves understood (even if appearing brash), don't allow time to infringe on the sovereignty of their wills, and build cities that pointedly serve the common welfare and happiness like none I've seen in America; their great plazas, countless public works/monuments, artistic bridges, and omnipresent sidewalks and bike paths have left me with a very different view on what a city can and should be.
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. |
The effectiveness of the professors/classes at the study center was mixed, but the program also offered access to all the classses of the University of Seville- a large and prestigious institution. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Overall, the staff were very friendly, accommodating, and well-organized. I couldn't have asked for more. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The apartment was relatively far from the university/study center, as is common in Spain, but it was a nice neighborhood and had a good nearby night life. |
| * Food: |
My senora prepared every meal for me- making things generally convenient, but unfortunately discouraging me from eating out (as I'd already paid for my meals) and discovering new places, people, and food. Also, although she was very accommodating to my schedule, she tended to cycle through the same (not terribly exciting) foods. For better food I would recommend living/eating with a family, not with a senora who makes food specifically for you. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
There were plenty of fun and well organized weekend trips, weeknight events, etc. I did most of the trips, but wish I'd found time for more routine activities, such as the weekly soccer games. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I never faced any of these issues, which probably only says good things about the program. |
| 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 |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
All our classes were in Spanish, the staff only spoke to us in Spanish, and they explicitly encouraged us and told us many ways to improve. I refrain from 5 "globes" simply because by the program's very nature I was surrounded by fellow Americans, and thus spoke a good deal of English. |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Sevilla is a beautiful, historical city that gives access to one of the largest universities in Spain (known for its history department, I believe), pristine old buildings, a good night life (if you know where to look), and plenty of (expensive) shopping opportunities. It also offers easy access to most of Southern Spain, Portugal, Morocco, and Gibraltar. If you're interested in travelling outside of this immediate vicinity, it will be cheaper/easier to do so from Madrid or Barcelona (as almost all flights connect in one of these two cities). If you choose to go, I would highly recommend the program-sponsored trips (that happen every couple of weeks), doing as many extracurriculars as possible (to find more Spaniards/occasions to speak Spanish) and jogging on the long and pretty path that follows the Guadalquivir. Also, I wouldn't be too afraid of taking classes in Spanish (I'm not a Spanish major/minor) as they'll make sure you don't go in over your head. If you want academic stimulation/improved Spanish, take some classes at the Uni- if you're more interested in travel/fun, mostly stick to classes at the study center/cursos para extranjeros. As for romance, be warned that Spanish men are a bit sleazy and women a bit catty. Anyway I had a good time, and hope you also enjoy Seville should you choose to go there. |
