Salamanca - The best 3 months of my college career Past Review
By Emily M (Communications, New England College) for
ISA Study Abroad in Salamanca, Spain
I started to understand just how huge the world is, and the insignificance of a single person. Living in a city for the first time was initially a challenge but after getting accustomed to my surroundings I loved the hustle and bustle of a living city.
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I enjoyed learning from another culture's point of view |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My homestay was incredible. She was very welcoming, hilarious and provided everything I needed. She was consistent in doing laundry, keeping the house clean and cooking incredible meals. The home itself was always very clean, in a good neighborhood and relatively close to classes and nightlife. |
| * Food: |
My madre was an incredible cook and made both dishes typical to Spain, homemade paella and a traditional meal of rice, friend banana, fried egg and sausage, along with typical 'American' dishes, like a good old fashioned cheeseburger and fries when we were feeling a little homesick. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Salamanca seemed like a very safe city, as long as you keep your wits about you. After returning from an excursion to Morocco I had to go see a doctor. An ISA representative went with me, talked to the doctor and translated and then accompanied me to a pharmacy to get the medicine that I needed. Despite being ill in a foreign country, I felt completely taken care of and confident in the treatment that I received. |
| 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 |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
I used Spanish every day in classes and in my homestay, but often found myself speaking English among American friends. The homestay was a great way to practice speaking and listening/understanding. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Words of wisdom: Spain is A LOT colder than you would expect, especially during the fall and winter months, and especially as you travel further up north. Make sure you bring warm clothes! And good walking shoes or boots are essential because you'll find yourself walking miles and miles every day. |
