ISA Granada was the most incredible experience I've ever had!!!! Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The work load was not bad at all. However, I would have been fine with absolutely no work at all because then I would have had even more free time. I had about 0-1 hours of work a day. Even without a lot of homework, you still learn a lot depending on how fully you emerse yourself in the culture. If you talk to Spaniards everyday and take all of your classes in Spanish, you will learn a lot and homework is not necessary. However, I did not like that our classes weren't will Spaniards, even though that may have made them too hard.

On-site administration of your program

They were great. This program is especially good for someone who has never been abroad before because it is very much a hold your hand system. The office is within walking distance. You can talk to any of the staff anytime that you need help. They even give you their personal phone numbers for an emergency. Also, when you have a doctor appointment they go with you. They also plan a lot of fun activities. However, they did not have enough intercambio events and it was hard to meet Spaniards since all of our classes were with Americans.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I liked my housing, but I wish I had known more about living in a residencia. I loved my host Mom, but people who lived in residencias met more locals because they lived with other students who were Spanish and around the same age. This made them more likely to go out together and hang out with each other. I liked my host mom so much that I am happy I got to stay with her, but if I were to study abroad again, I would choose a residencia so that I could make more local friends and hang out with them a lot. I also lived with another American student who knew very little Spanish. It would be better to not live with Americans at all. People in Residencias live with another American student as well, but they still live with Spaniards, too. The one other annoying thing about residencias is that you cannot have the opposite sex stay over night. This makes sense for home-stays because no family would want a strange man in their house, but if people are living in an Apartment, they should be allowed to make their own choices. This is one way in which the program was a little too baby sitting-ish. Finally, homestays in Granada are usually not with families, you usually only live with a senora.

The food was good,especially after hearing horror stories about other people's host families food. However, it was unhealthy and I gained a lot of weight. Everything is very oily. I had irregular poop and stomach aches the first month there because I wasn't used to so much oil. Eventually I got used to the oil. I still liked the food A LOT! However, I disagree with the idea that the Mediterranean diet is healthy.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Culturally this program was incredible. Granada is a beautiful city with incredible architecture and really awesome people. It is a very liberal city and is a great place for people who believe in equal rights for all, especially gay rights. It is not uncommon to see people of the same sex kissing in the street...everyone kisses in the street in Spain. I am very comfortable with PDA so I was fine with it, but if you are a conservative person, you might not like it here. The dogs are also incredible in Spain. They are not kept on leashes and yet they cause absolutely no trouble whatsoever. However, their owners need to learn how to pick up the poop. Also, there is SO MUCH SMOKE in Spain. After awhile, you will get used to the smell, but I am still worried I'm going to get cancer from going there. The Alhambra is an incredible and is something that everyone should see at least once in their life. The architecture and history of Granada as a place of religious freedom and the last Moorish strong hold is incredible. It still seems like a place where big things are just waiting to happen. I felt like I was in the middle of a social revolution while I was in Granada. A lot of people dressed in a strange fashion that could be considered similar to hippies. If you like the feeling as if you are a part of something big that is happening, you will LOVE Granada. There is just something special in the air there. Also, they have banos arribes which are incredible. I loved them so much and I wish I had been able to go once a month. Another great thing about Granada is that it is 45ish minutes from the mountains and beach so you get the best of both worlds. The night life is also great. You can buy a drink for about $2.50 and with that, you get free food (tapas). It isn't a lot of food, but if you get full easily, then you can essentially get a whole meal for just $2.50. Finally, the night life is AMAZING. You can drink in public which is great because it is less smokey than drinking in bars. Also, you can eat in restaurants outside at night. No one rushes you out of the restaurant, you can sit there all night if you want to. Finally, the clubs are open until about 5am. Another incredible place that I loved was the Albazyn it is a ton of absolutely beautiful white houses in hills on windy roads. The Albazyn looks over the rest of Granada from up high and the view is incredible! The one complaint I have is simply that I did not get to interact with locals enough, but I probably could have just worked harder to fix that myself. Another great part about Granada is that it is a very artistic place. Sometimes you will see people painting in the streets. Also, there is the most incredible graffiti in the world in Granada. The graffiti there are definitely works of art and not vandalism. Some of it is awful and vandalism, but the graffiti that is on new buildings that were built for conventional use and not for appearance, the graffiti improves them greatly. Also, the graffiti isn't people's names in bubble letters, they are of peoples faces and a lot of abstract images that seem to pop off the wall. There are a lot of artisan made items all over Granada. The shopping is a lot of fun if you like artistic items. The shopping is even fun for people who like more upscale clothing as well. I always enjoyed window shopping on the way to class every day. Every two weeks the clothing stores are restocked with completely new items. Finally, the airport in Granada is more expensive than other airports in Spain so it is harder to travel because you have to take a bus to another airport first.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

The city is very safe, however it is a city. Do not walk alone at night. I got sexually harassed once, but I have gotten sexually harassed many times in America, so this isn't because it was a "foreign" and "dangerous" country. Bad people come out at night every where. Also, sometimes poor people knocked on the door of my apartment and would try to pretend that they know me. I learned from my senora not to open the door to anyone that you do not know because if you do, they will knock you to the ground and run inside to rob you. However, I felt very safe in Granada. It is one of the safest cities I have ever lived in.

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

I lived with a host Mom and that is who I practiced my Spanish with. Also, all my classes were in Spanish and I talked to locals occasionally. However, all of my classes were with Americans so I had trouble making friends with locals to practice my Spanish more. I ended up mainly having American friends and we usually ended up speaking English together instead of Spanish. It would have been better if we had been separated as much as possible. Although I improved a lot, I feel like I could have become fluent if I had more chances to interact with locals and less chances to interact with Americans

Select all that apply

• Host Family

Select all that apply

• Host Family
• Americans