Mediterranean Culture-- A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity Past Review
By Faith Padgett (University of Pennsylvania) - abroad from 05/25/2017 to 07/28/2017 with
CISabroad (Center for International Studies): Mediterranean Culture Studies: Barcelona & Sorrento
My experience abroad taught me so much-- I am a much more responsible and capable adult now. I feel like I can't even sum up my experience-- I learned so much in every moment, and I will continue to process it for years to come.
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. |
Amazing. This program was terrific-- my classes were great and my professors were incredibly qualified as well as available for one-on-one assistance/support. |
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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: |
PLEASE please try new things. Try all the new things. Food is such a way of experiencing culture-- go wild and try all sorts. I found some of my favorite foods/drinks of all time doing this and I have no regrets about being adventurous while eating. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt very integrated into cultural life in Rome, whereas in Barcelona being in a Catalan area, tourists are detested and the moment anyone heard me speak English, I was marked as an outsider. If I spoke Spanish, however, I was able to more fully integrate, and to be treated as a visitor with good intentions rather than a reckless American. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Being abroad involves risk, especially as a young person, and especially as someone who is woman-identifying. However, the program itself did a great job at providing safety nets for students, and preparing students for the kinds of safety questions that arise. Be smart, stay with other people, and don't get trashed/smashed the way you might at your college campus in the states. Buckle up in cars. You'll be fine if you remember these few rules, stick to them, and make sure you have some sort of maps on your phone to be able to get yourself home at night. |
| 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) |
Going abroad is just expensive. It just is. You have to prepare for wanting to explore: public transport, food, drinks at night, museum entries, train/plane tickets all cost euros. That said, the program itself did a great job of mitigating cost for us. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | BUDGET. And spend less on lunch/dinner if you can on most week-nights. You can treat yourself on the weekend, but save up during the week. |
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? | Beginner |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Fluency in Spanish, remedial in French, no experience with Portuguese or Italian |
| 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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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 understood how expensive abroad would be, and I wish I knew how homesick I would be. Everyone gets homesick, regardless of how fun or enjoyable their program is-- be ready to be melancholic for a few days here and there. You will have good days and bad days, just like at home. |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Avid AdventurerThe wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal. |
