Two Weeks Abroad in Spain- A New Look at Spanish Culture Past Review

By (Berea College) - abroad from 05/13/2018 to 05/27/2018 with

KIIS: Barcelona - Experience Barcelona (Summer)

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was definitely worthwhile. I gained the confidence to venture out of my comfort zone and to take opportunities as they come.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

I had amazing experiences in Spain that I will never forget and I made some pretty cool friends while I was there. The negative experiences that I had in Spain were due to factors uncontrollable by the program and could have happened in any study abroad program.

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? $50
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Plan out how much you are going to spend and take it all out of the ATM in one transaction. Otherwise, you'll be paying a $5 transaction fee each time. Or, to my knowledge, you can exchange your currency at the airport free of charge.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? None
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Beginner
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Spanish 2 high school level
How many hours per day did you use the language?
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Dual Lingo App!

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Historical site seeing
  • Administration that cared for us
  • Getting to figure out Spain's system of transportation on our own
* What could be improved?
  • Communication between the students
  • Food quality
  • More down time
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I would have packed lighter, even though I thought I was packing lightly. I would've made my carry-on a lot lighter because packing it around the airport was really annoying!

Reasons For Studying Abroad

To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you.
The Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!