Granada - Lots of Culture, Fun, and Friends Past Review
By Kathryn P (Biology, University of Puget Sound) for
ISA Study Abroad in Granada, Spain
My experience in Spain helped me grow as an independent person and any traveling you do in another country is super beneficial to your person. I can't wait to go again!
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The classes were more fun than challenging. The work wasn't bad; the learning came more from immersion and constant practice with teachers and friends and the host family than anything else, which was great. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Everyone I met that worked with the program was very helpful with any questions I had and was always working to make everything work out. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My host family was really quiet and busy, so I didn't see them a lot, but they were always very nice and considerate of my being vegetarian. |
| * Food: |
The food was great, but it is hard being a vegetarian in Spain. I'm vegan now, so I can't imagine how hard it would've been as a vegan living there. I think in Madrid it would probably be easier because it's a bigger city, but it was sometimes hard in Granada. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Seeing the Alhambra and going to the Alpujarras was so much fun! |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Granada is a safe city, and the people working with the program made it clear how to reach them in case anything did happen. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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) |
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Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
Not a lot of people in Granada that met spoke English, so Spanish was used constantly. |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Granada is an amazing city - I absolutely fell in love. From the Moroccan influence to the gelato, the churros con chocolate to the Alhambra, it's a great place to be. It's not a city like Madrid or Sevilla, and it isn't particularly close to the beach, so if you want to go to Spain to lay on the beach every day and shop till you drop, Granada might not be the place for you; however, if relaxing in a little tea shop sounds fun, then Granada is definitely the best. |
