IES Barcelona Study Abroad Spring 2023 August 24, 2023
By Peter M (Finance, Indiana University - Bloomington) - abroad from 01/08/2023 to 04/28/2023 with
IES Abroad: Barcelona - Study Abroad with IES Abroad
I learned a massive amount of things while abroad, about myself, the world around me, and all of the different cultures I encountered.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The academics of this program were well organized. I found the classes interesting, engaging, but not too challenging. The course load was light enough to allow us to explore our surroundings without stressing out too much. The smaller class sizes and discussion based classes were fun. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
IES did a fantastic job communicating with students and assisting with any issues. They were proactive and very responsive. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
IES provided many different housing options, with almost all students receiving their first choice. The apartment I stayed in was fantastic and incredibly nice. |
| * Food: |
Tapas! That's all I have to say |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
It was difficult at times to remain integrated with local culture. We were constantly surrounded by American students (many that attend my home university), so it was difficult to develop friendships with Barcelona locals. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
IES was quick to connect me with local health care providers who could speak English. When I was in the hospital with an illness, they visited me frequently to make sure I was healthy and comfortable. |
| * Safety: |
While Barcelona is known for petty crime and pickpocketing, I never felt remotely unsafe. I had no close calls and always felt comfortable walking around at night. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I cannot think of a better city to study abroad in than Barcelona. There is so much to do and discover at all times. IES was great in all aspects. |
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) |
Barcelona is a relatively affordable compared to the United States. That being said, traveling can be very expensive. Maintaining a reasonable budget for all four months abroad can definitely be difficult. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $150 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | If you have a nice kitchen, use it to cook. You can save a lot of money that way. |
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 |
I really enjoyed my Spanish course. My professor was awesome and gave us ways to practically implement our learnings on a daily basis |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| 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? | AP Spanish Language |
| 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? | Don't be afraid to use Spanish where possible. While most people in Barcelona speak some English, they will gladly communicate with you in Spanish if you are comfortable doing so |
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? | 0 |
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 knew how to manage the true length of the program from a mental and financial perspective. Four months is a very long time to live in a foreign country, and it took a toll on my mental health and my wallet. |
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 Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
