Granada Rocks!! Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

On-site administration of your program

Studying abroad through IES Abroad Granada was the best decision I could've made. I felt supported, challenged, and excited on a daily basis. The program offers support in helping students engage in the community. Through IES, I was able to take an extracurricular painting class at a local community art center. Every week, an email of all the amazing events and activities going on goes out- language meet ups, cool tapas bars to check out, museum exhibits... anything under the sun! IES takes students on incredible excursions- one of my favorites was our trip to Morocco, where we had the opportunity to stay in homestay families in Rabat and explore a bunch of different cities. I cannot say enough good things about the staff- Javier is absolutely the best person on the planet for this job, and I loved getting to know the folks at IES Granada. They strike an excellent balance of making students feel comfortable and supported while giving students independence and opportunity to shape their own experiences.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

One of the biggest highlights for me was my host mom- she was undoubtedly my best friend while I was abroad, and I learned so much from living with her. She made me feel like family right off the bat, and hanging out with her skyrocketed my Spanish speaking abilities. We went shopping together, went for churros and chocolate, and spent many hours having long chats about life! Living with her was so special, and an experience I will hold in my heart forever.

My host mom made amazing lunches- full of vegetables, delicious meats, and fresh bread. The tapas culture is super fun, and I enjoyed trying all of the local delicacies.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Granada itself is truly a magical city, with beautiful mountains, tons of nooks and crannies to explore, an abundance of tapas, and wonderful people. I loved sitting in a plaza with a café con leche after class, soaking up the Spanish sun and reading a book or talking with a friend. It's very walkable, very beautiful, and the ideal size for studying abroad- big enough where I felt like I had plenty to explore, but small enough to get to know well. There is also access to nature right outside of the city. I would hike often in the nearby rolling hills, or take a short bus ride to the beautiful Alpujarra, where you can explore the Sierra Nevada and take a breather from the city.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Great! I luckily stayed healthy during the program, but when a couple of my friends fell ill at different points during the semester, IES staff immediately got them the health care they needed.

Very safe. Just like any big city, it's important to be aware of your surroundings. IES does a great job of addressing safety concerns during orientation.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

The main expense is dinner, as the program does not provide it. Eating out in Granada is super cheap, though- you can get a free tapa with any drink, whether it's a soda or a glass of wine! It's very doable to live on a student budget here.

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

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• Host Family

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• Host Family

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• Americans

• Host mom
• Program staff
• The city itself

• Some of my American classmates got placed in homestay really far from IES center- would be nice if folks could live a little closer
• Access to a kitchen for making dinner would be really helpful
• Perhaps making the program a little more accessible to folks from marginalized communities

The Avid Adventurer