Murcia: The Diamond in the Rough of Spain Past Review
By Trevor A (Spanish Language and Literature., University of Wisconsin - LaCrosse) for
ISEP Exchange: Murcia - Exchange Program at Universidad de Murcia
I learned to live and love a culture that I believe has more positives than our own. The program has made me apply to teach in Spain the next academic year.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The direct program focused more on learning in class than on homework load. The professors taught us many subjects of Spain with different perspectives. The learning was very interactive. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Everything was as expected. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My apartment was in a great, safe location. Class was a 30 minute bus ride away, but I could easily access everything else that I needed. The apartment was very aesthetically pleasing. I didn't need to buy anything to settle in. |
| * Food: |
Quality and quantity was fantastic. I was never disappointed with any restaurant that i went to. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Student trips to Granada and Ibiza were outrageously fun. I highly recommend going on any organized trip that one can. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I had no experience with healthcare, but I know that there were plenty of people to help you access it. As far as safety goes, don't go into certain neighborhoods at night and never walk alone late at night. |
| 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 practiced Spanish with everyone that I knew there. The great majority of natives in my region did not speak any English. And if they did, it was little to none. Murcia was an incredible place to facilitate language use. |
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 did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Make an effort to speak only the language that you are studying. You can speak English when you get back to the states. Go out as much as possible. No regrets. |
