Spain = Awesome Past Review
By Rachelle P (Spanish, California State University - Northridge) for
Complutense University of Madrid: Madrid - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
Apart from becoming fluent in Spanish, which I don;t think would have been possible without a full immersion experience, I came away with a much more open worldview.
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 workload was challenging, but manageable. All courses were taught in Spanish by Spanish professors, but the workload was more similar to the American system (several papers and tests throughout the semester rather than one final exam and/or paper at the end of the semester) that to the Spanish. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The program was pretty hands-off overall, which I liked. They were generally knowledgeable about the requirements needed for the program, but the director was somewhat less knowledgeable about the country. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
We had to find our own apartments to live in. I was lucky to live with all Spaniards; everyone else in the program lived with other international students. Apartments in Madrid are fully furnished; the only thing I really needed to buy was a duvet cover. My roommates were great,though I had one roommate who had a lot of misconceptions about Americans. The neighborhood was great too, quieter than some areas but easily accessible and a straight shot to campus and downtown. |
| * Food: |
My first few months I made it a priority to try lots of different things, and though Spanish food did not end up being my favorite, I'm glad I did. If you live with a host family, you're likely to eat lots of traditional soups and stews, pork, lots of seafood, vegetables (especially green beans and chickpeas). It may be difficult to be a vegetarian, but being dairy-free was easy for me, since everything is cooked in olive oil rather than butter or cream. My favorite food to dine out on was the middle eastern cuisine; schwarma stands are everywhere, cheap and delicious! Tapas are also good, but can be more expensive. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I loved being able to hop on a train or bus and see something completely different from Madrid in a few hours. Spain had a varied climate, so each region has its own charm. Travel was relatively inexpensive, too. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Madrid is a fairly safe city. The main thing to look out for is pickpocketing, which is pretty common. |
| 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 |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
I lived with Spaniards, only one of whom spoke English, so I was in the perfect environment to perfect my skills. I used Spanish every day. |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Direct Enrollment |
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? | Try and live with Spanish speakers! It makes a huge difference. Try everything and be open to new experiences. Participate in activities you wouldn't normally be interested in. Make sure to build a strong community of friends, too! |
