Growing in Granada Past Review
By Lauren G (Elementary Education, Illinois State University) for
ISA Study Abroad in Granada, Spain
I'm a semester behind because of it and I still wouldn't change a thing.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
|
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
They picked us up at Madrid airport and were there for us the whole way. They were always there for help in Granada. They were always very accommodating and looking out for our best interest. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I shared a room with another girl in my program. There was also another girl from ISA who lived across the hall. We were able to come and go as we wanted. We were expected to be present at lunch and dinner unless we told our host mom in advance. Sometimes I felt more like a guest than a family member. Also, my house was pretty far from the city center and nightlife, about a 30 minute walk. But overall, I highly recommend living with a host family. |
| * Food: |
I'm a vegetarian and my host mom did a great job of accommodating me. Sometimes the food was repetitive. But overall, very tasty. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I made life long friends when I was abroad. My favorite thing was just all the travel I did. I saw so many amazing things, like the Colosseum in Rome, the Berlin Wall, ect. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
|
| * Safety: |
I would walk home alone at 3 in the morning and feel extremely safe. Safer than I would at my home university. |
| 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? | If I wasn't traveling somewhere, I probably spent 50 euro a week. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | I wish I didn't buy so many clothes! |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | None |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
|
| Language acquisition improvement? |
I lived with a host family and they didn't speak any English so I was speaking Spanish everyday with them. Granada isn't a huge city so most people didn't speak English. So I was also using Spanish in cafes, shops, ect. I basically only used English with other Americans. It was a little intimidating at first but I am so glad that we were almost forced to speak it because the only way to become fluent. |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Do as much as you can to immerse yourself in your host country's culture. Take every positive opportunity when it arrises. |
