Past Review
By Neyma F (Government, Spanish, New Mexico State University) for
NRCSA: Barcelona - International House
I believe the more you travel and the more cultures that you understand the better your world view is. This kind of understanding only comes from actually living in that country and embracing their culture. I think the biggest differences I have seen is the impact of collectivism vs individualism. Spain is a country who's culture was affected greatly by Franco's dictatorship where everything was government controlled and censored, thus they have a higher appreciation for their new found freedoms and are very outspoken individuals.
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. |
Their grading and testing system is very different in that in the States, your grades may very well depend on participation and the effort you put forth, whereas their grading is based solely on your performance and actual knowledge. I find that although it may be a bit harsh, it's a great method to use for accurate placement. I was very pleased. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I had no complaints. They are a very organized team that seeks to meet the individual needs of each student. I am a native Spanish speaker and International House was not designed for people like myself, but they went out of their way to find an adequate course of study for me and I was more than satisfied. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I absolutely loved the apartment and the location could have not been better. The family, however, was not very inclusive and in a sense made me feel like an intruder more than once. I was not there for free and would have liked better treatment from one of the two family members. But the location was so perfect I couldn't give it up. |
| * Food: |
Your first week will be rough, although many menus are in Catalan, ask for a Spanish version-most places have it. Avoid chains at all costs- they are disgusting. Pork is very popular in Spain, so beware of what you buy. A big mac may be 50% beef, 20% rabbit and 30% pork-not kidding you. At a restaurant, you will pay more for sitting outside, and less for sitting at the bar. Try plenty of tapas- most of them are great! Mediterranean cuisine is very healthy and tasty. Give it a shot. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Ask your teachers what tours are worth going on. When in Barcelona must see: Montjuic, MNAC, pueblo espanol, parc guell, parc de la ciutatella, la sagrada familia, museo picasso, casa batllo, palau de la musica catalana, las ramblas, barceloneta, |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
They gave us plenty of advice. All I can say is don't walk home alone at night. If you are with guys then make them walk you home, use the buddy system. It can get creepy at night, especially because they can tell you're not local in an instant. |
| 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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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | When you withdraw money, your bank charges you a service charge and so does whatever ATM you use, so try to make as few withdrawals as possible. You get the best exchange rate on your card, so use it every time you can. |
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? |
My Spanish was already exceptional and there wasn't much room for improvement, so my focus was really directed towards the cultural aspects of it and I was very pleased. |
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? | I think anyone who wishes to learn the language and get a broader understanding of Europe is best fit for Barcelona. If you want to understand Spanish culture, perhaps you would be better off in Sevilla or Madrid, since Barcelona is in Catalunya and there are many cultural differences. Barcelona is very cosmopolitan and offers a broader view. Here you will meet people from all over Europe and get the opportunity to learn about their cultures as well as the Spanish. |
