Enamorada de Granada Past Review

By Ben B (History, Grinnell College) - abroad from 09/01/2015 to 12/18/2015 with

IES Abroad: Granada - Liberal Arts & Language

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

I learned so much about myself and the culture in which I lived and grew. It also really gave me a great opportunity to reflect on my own culture that I brought with me. It was the best 4 months of my life.

Review Photos

IES Abroad: Granada - Study Abroad with IES Abroad Photo

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.	Not quite as engaging as my normal courses, but the experiential learning aspect was new and really enhanced my class experience. The one university course I took was pretty interesting and not too difficult either.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program	IES Granada staff/administration is incredible.
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?
* Food:	Shawarma!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
* 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 Absolutely. No hesitation.

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)	Going out for tapas every night is doable, because Granada is pretty cheap and tapas are free! But if you don't have a big budget, you can still get by easily going out for tapas most nights. Also make sure you go to the clubs on nights when they are free.
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	30 euros
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	Don't make any big purchases at the beginning of the program- be patient if you think you want something like a bike.

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	There were a lot of students in the program who didn't speak Spanish at a high level, which made it hard to stick to just using Spanish while on the program.
How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program?	Advanced
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?	Advanced Spanish Language- the highest offered at my school
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?	Surround yourself with people who are committed to speaking the language. Try to be disciplined and utilize fun resources like tv shows or movies to complement your learning.

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	Local Students Americans International Students
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 food The city- so beautiful
* What could be improved?	Intercambio program
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	No matter what, "No pasa nada"

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.