It was definitely a challenge but I learned so much and loved it. Past Review
By Helen D (ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE/LETTERS., Presbyterian College) - abroad from 09/01/2013 to 12/19/2013 with
Pablo de Olavide University: Seville - Multidisciplinary Studies Program
I learned not to be afraid to ask for help, I learned that (most of the time) people are actually really nice and willing to help you, I learned that I am much more capable of dealing with problems that I thought. I learned that I don't really like Spanish food. It was 100% worth while.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
They were great! They knew me by name, planned programs to get us involved in the culture and worked hard to make sure that we felt at home. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Overall it was not a bad experience. I did live pretty far out of town and nowhere near a metro station which made getting around a pain. My host mother was great though. |
| * Food: |
I'm not a picky eater but I did not like the food that my host mother made for me. I tried everything she gave me but most of it was not good. |
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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? |
There were several times that I wanted to go to the doctor but I couldn't figure out how or where to go. I ended up just waiting for whatever illness I had to pass. |
| * Safety: |
I never really felt like I was in any danger but I think that is mostly because I was smart about it. I never walked alone at night. I always made sure I knew where I was going and I was polite to the locals. Like any city, Sevilla has its dangerous sides of town but if you can tell where those are, and you don't go alone, its really pretty safe. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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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) |
Sevilla is a very affordable city. I found most of my funds were spent when I left the city...be careful though- its super easy to blow your budget within the first two weeks. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | about 100 euros a week |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Make a budget before you go! Also it may be helpful to make a separate budget for travel and in city expenses. I decided I wouldnt spend more that 3,000 dollars while I was abroad and in the 14 weeks I was there it was totally do-able |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
It wasn't forced but we were encouraged to speak in Spanish when we were in the international office. Also my host family didn't speak any English so I had to speak spanish with them. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Spanish 115 (intermediate beginner) |
| 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? | Take classes in spanish if you can and speak spanish even with your american friends. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| 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? |
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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? | I wish I had known more about the housing options. |
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 Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
