Barcelona: A Cultural and Physical Distance Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The requirements of Fordham differ from the requirements of IQS when discussing how credits transfer. I understand the discrepancies between the grading scales. However it is unfair that it was not properly explained to the participating students before hand as this would have been more useful in the selection process of a program. The workload was less in Spain however required more work on foreign students' end because of the language barrier as well as for our situation since we had to finish our final works a month earlier than they were due. Students differ from those in America because most did not pay as much attention or seem to be as concerned with their performance in class, as was demonstrated in how they interacted with the professors. IQS classes resembled my high school experience.

On-site administration of your program

Professors are very accessible. Small program and the other foreigners were close knit. My expectations however were not met because it was not a program designed for foreign exchange students but rather a direct enroll program.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Housing was arranged by my roommate. There was very little support from either end when choosing housing. For example, we lived in a notoriously dangerous part of Barcelona and had picked it without even knowing its reputation. The apartment came furnished with the necessities however I did not know about the roach problem until I arrived. I initially wanted to live with natives or a host family and I still think this would have been a better situation.

excellent food but expensive to eat out. home cooked easy meals were routine.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Travel as much as possible. Merce festival in September in Barcelona is very fun and different. Barcelona is a proud city. However very few activities were set up by my program.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Safe city although I lived in a somewhat dangerous neighborhood. There was no nurse's office in my host university and I had difficulty finding a doctor when I was very sick with a stomach virus. Very bad experience as far as health.

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

Students at the university were eager to practice their english skills and were excited to hear that there were Americans in class. However the teaching was all done in spanish and interactions with professors were done in spanish. The only aspect that was missing in the language aspect of the program is housing. Had i been living with native speakers it would have been easier to become more fluent.

Select all that apply

• Apartment

Select all that apply

• Americans

• classes force you to have spanish (reading and listening) practice
• independence and adventure of everything being new
• getting to know the students

• information transparency and preparation
• more programs and accommodation for foreign students