King of Spain: PRESCHO for the Fall Past Review
By Kate C (Environmental Studies., Wellesley College) - abroad from 08/31/2013 to 12/19/2013 with
PRESHCO: Study Abroad in Córdoba, Spain
Oh, it was positively worthwhile and I learned a lot. I gained international experience and some new friends. I learned a lot about a new culture and a little about a lot of other new cultures. I can speak Spanish well now. I'm proud of myself.
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. |
The courses aren't hard to get by in. There was quite a bit of reading for some courses that could take a lot of time, but really they weren't necessary anyways, they were more supplemental. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Very accomodating. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived in a big house with a gorgeous patio. My host family and I got along really well and they pretty much let me do as I pleased. They tried to help me out whenever I needed anything. |
| * Food: |
The food my family made was great! And they always wanted me to eat with them! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I really liked the other Americans in my program and so I was usually with one of them, keeping me from really integrating. But overall I felt I really experienced the differences of the Spanish culture and American culture as much as you can in a semester abroad. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I didn't have any health issues, I can't rate this. |
| * Safety: |
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| 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 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
Easily, with the program stipend (500$ during the semester for pretty much anything). But travel is expensive! |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | ~15-20$ on food, and more one plane tickets. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Book plane/bus tickets early if you want to go and travel on weekends! |
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 |
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| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Spanish 202 |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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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 improved my Spanish more the summer before leaving because I wished to say a lot to my host family and I was nervous in my Spanish skills when I first got there. |
