Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Granada, te amo! Past Review

By (Scripps College) - abroad from 09/02/0014 to 12/17/0014 with

IES Abroad: Granada - Liberal Arts & Language

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Granada was an incredible environment for studying abroad; it offers the best of so many worlds. The Andalusians and other Spaniards I met in Granada were kind and open people, the popularity of UGR brought international students from all around the world to the city, the night culture is very lively while also very safe, the city center plus the surrounding neighborhoods offer a diverse urban environment not only in terms of people but also in terms of places and things to do, IES home-stay mothers/families are chosen selectively, very accommodating and a huge part of your cultural immersion, IES provides a wide range of courses and work hard to help create the right schedule for you, IES also organizes numerous field trips within Granada but also to other cities in Spain, and the list goes on and on!

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

IES provides a wide range of courses and work hard to help create the right schedule for you

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The faculty and staff are amazing! They already knew most of our names and faces before we arrived for orientation. I got very close to the IES faculty and staff, however, they always remained very professional.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

IES home-stay mothers/families are chosen selectively, very accommodating and a huge part of your cultural immersion. My host family (mother and 27 year-old sister) was one of the most positive parts of my study abroad experience. They made me feel very welcome and comfortable in their home. My host mother's cooking was a definite plus as well!

* Food:

I loved my host mother's cooking - I usually had fruit, yogurt and granola in the mornings, for lunch it was a 2-3 course meal, and I usually went out for tapas with friends for dinner. I gave up being vegetarian while I was in Spain but I was still able to eat mostly vegetarian when I requested it. They're definitely known for their love of bread, olive oil and jamón.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Finances

* 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)

Granada is cheap in comparison to the rest of Spain and Europe, and in general very affordable as long as you know how to budget your money well.

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? Buy groceries (very cheap) to make dinner at home during the week. Don't go out for tapas every night.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

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? Survey of Spanish Literature
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? Practice the language as much as possible during meal times with your host family. Also participate in class discussions and make friends with people outside of your American program.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
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?
  • My host family
  • IES Students, Faculty & Staff
  • Amazing location!
* What could be improved?
  • The Spanish level of the students in any one class varied widely.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Don't come into your study abroad experience with a specific vision of how things are going to play out, be open and optimistic! Things are not going to go exactly as planned, so learn to go with the flow!

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 Urbanite
A 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.