Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Yikes, what if I hadn't done that? Past Review

By (PSYCHOLOGY., Bowdoin College) - abroad from 09/02/2014 to 12/18/2014 with

IES Abroad: Granada - Liberal Arts & Language

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned to love being in new and uncomfortable situations. I learned that people are generally very similar, but there are inherent differences in the ways we choose to live our lives. I learned how to do my part in forming incredible relationships, and I'm excited to see how they continue in the future.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Classes were not especially difficult, but they tended to offer a very real and palpable image of the subject matter, which often reflected something we saw on a day-to-day basis while living in Granada. For example, my Islamic Art and Architecture course met on Mondays to study the topic of the day, then regrouped on Thursdays to tour sites that exhibit the artistic, architectural, and/or historic focus of the week.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The program directors in Granada are absolutely incredible. I don't mean to rehash the same sympathies, but I really think students considering IES Granada should know how well they'll be taken care of.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

My host mom made me an amazing lunch every day, and we'd often end up sobremesa-ing for up to two hours.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

IES Granada did a really good job of integrating us into the community through different events, workshops, tastings, etc.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

One time I came home from a day hike at around midnight. I had a bit of an accident on the mountain, and ended up rolling down a wet, rocky slope for about thirty meters. My host mom noticed my scratched face and obvious limp as I walked through the door, and immediately called the IES employee on duty that night to request that she assist me to the hospital. Within fifteen minutes, the on-call director picked me up from our front door, helped me down the stairs, rode in a cab with me to the public hospital, and stayed in the waiting room with me until I was taken care of and ready to go home. I was SO grateful to have her with me for that experience.

* 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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? About 30 euro

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
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? Speak to people! The best way to overcome speaking stage-freight is by opening your mouth.

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?
  • The people
  • The classes
  • The city
* What could be improved?
  • Better integration with local students
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I had tried to meet locals earlier in my stay.

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 Adventurer
The 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.