Granada Changed Me- But Not in a Way I Would Expect Past Review
By Marissa Ruehl (Hope College) - abroad from 01/30/2017 to 06/01/2017 with
IES Abroad: Granada - Liberal Arts & Language
It was 100% worthwhile. I learned that I do not have to be afraid to speak in a different language. Any language you speak is just another way of communicating. I learned that I am more self-sufficient than I previously thought, and that I can handle being on my own without feeling alone. By taking a political science class at the local university and being the only American student in the class, I learned that not everyone thinks of the world in the same way, and that it is useful to have different opinions and to debate different perspectives.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Great variety of courses, access to local university libraries and classes |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Everyone was super friendly and helpful, and always willing to make sure the study abroad experience went smoothly. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Living in a homestay was helpful to see Spanish home life, as well as practice using the language with Spaniards in a non-academic setting. |
| * Food: |
Spanish food is delicious. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
We participated in tapas, I attended church, we had an IES and University of Granada co-ed soccer team. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I was nervous to go to a doctor's office or pharmacy. The fact that health practices differ from country to country and the existence of a language barrier made this intimidating. However, our program made sure that we could contact them for help if we needed medical attention or help with anything. |
| * Safety: |
If you followed the general guidelines for living in a city, like don't walk alone at night, don't explore sketchy areas, and always have a charged and working phone on you, then you were fine. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I would love to someday return to Granada. It was a fantastic experience. That being said, I would also like to visit other places around the world. |
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) |
The thing you needed money the most for was food. If you wanted to eat at fancy restaurants, obviously that costed more. The majority of restaurants available however provided sufficient food and drinks for dinner at an average of probably 5 Euro, with is very cheap. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $75 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Know that besides paying for food, you will want souvenirs, mementos, and maybe even clothes from the country you visit. As well as the occasional ice cream or bakery treat ;) |
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 |
We were encouraged to speak in Spanish constantly! While that didn't necessarily happen, it was super helpful if everyone around you was making an effort to use and improve their Spanish skills. |
| 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? | 400-level Spanish literature classes |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 10+ |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Use it in all settings. I was good at Spanish for academic topics when I started the program, but Spain showed me that I needed to expand my knowledge of Spanish for the home, for hanging out with friends, for playing soccer, and for ordering meals. Using it in all those different places really helped to expand and complete my knowledge of the language. |
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? | No matter how much space you leave for souvenirs to bring home, it will not be enough. Accept that and invest in a mailing company that can ship your bags! |
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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
