AMAZING, LIFE-CHANGING, MOST FUN EXPERIENCE EVER! Past Review
By gracie.cepeda.1 (Psychology/Business, The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 05/22/2012 to 07/08/2012 with
IES Abroad: Barcelona - Study Abroad with IES Abroad
I can see the world in a whole new perspective now just by doing my study abroad there. It is really eye-opening to see people from all over the world and interact with them.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
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? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Healthcare was very easily accessible. I got a cold and they took care of it right away, I went to the doctor and they gave me medicine right away. |
| * Safety: |
I found Barcelona to be pretty safe. There are a lot of pickpocketers but honestly I didn't have any bad experience with that. I think if you look as if you are afraid then that makes you an easier target vs. if you just try to fit in with everyone else. |
| 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) |
I believe that this really depends on everyone. The reason why I spent so much every week was because I went out and explored the city almost every single night and I also did some traveling to close by cities and countries. Overall though, I definitely think I got my money's worth. |
| * Was housing included in your program cost? | Yes |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | Yes |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $200 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Make friends with locals and find where the cheap, good places to eat are at. I feel that for the most part, I ate in the very tourist-y areas of Barcelona and maybe that's why they were so expensive. |
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? | Fluent |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Fluent |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Very high. |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Try not to stick too much with the American group from the IES program. They all tend to speak to each other in English and not in Spanish. Definitely find locals and make friends with them and even then just interact with locals and you will definitely practice and learn the language better. |
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? | Now I know about the place in general. I learned about the culture, the history and about the families there in Barcelona which was really interesting. I definitely want to go back. |
