An Experience, For Sure Past Review
By A student (Smith College) - abroad from 01/26/2017 to 05/25/2017 with
PRESHCO: Study Abroad in Córdoba, Spain
It was worthwhile, because it taught me a lot about what is important to me and what I can and cannot handle. It was a great opportunity for growth, despite learning hardly anything academically.
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. |
The only class that I feel like I learned a decent amount from was my grammar class with Blas. Besides his class, I had hardly any assignments to reinforce my understanding of the subject material, or at the very least, broaden it. If it wasn't for my homestay and Blas's class, I doubt my Spanish would have improved. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The equipo is always available and supportive, and are there to help you with whatever you need. I think there could have been more assistance when it came to choosing classes and being more clear about the rules around that, but overall they were helpful during the semester. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The shower in our apartment was the absolute worst, and at times my host mom was quite difficult to live with. That being said, I know she meant well, and she did want to bond with us and make sure we had what we needed. |
| * Food: |
Nela is an awesome cook. I came back to the states with a book full of my favorite recipes of hers, and have already made a few for my family. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The Spanish students in the classes I was in mostly ignored me and the other preshquitas, but because I volunteered with two programs, attended the gym for most of the semester and took a few visiting friends around the city, I felt relatively integrated. There was a always a gap, though. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I was very sick for about 10 days during the 16-day orientation program and into the first few days of my homestay. The equipo kept an eye on me and accompanied me to the pharmacy in the early stages of my sickness to help me get medicine, and when the cough wouldn't go away Encarni brought me to the doctor's office where I was given antibiotics that cured it. |
| * Safety: |
Córdoba is a pretty safe city, overall. You have to watch out for the ladies who try to sell you herbs (they WILL grab you, and people have been robbed) and for men, particularly at night. I was grabbed a few times when walking around with friends in the evening by men on the street. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
The above question is a tricky one. I don't know that I would have chosen Spain at all, but I am grateful for the experience, because my speaking did improve and it taught me a lot about my personal preferences. So in some ways, no, and in others yes. |
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) |
I had to buy a lot of food to keep myself sustained throughout the day (there were typically at least 6-7 hours between meals) and I did not feel comfortable eating anything in the house besides the occasional piece of fruit. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | About $100 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Think about how long you are going to be in the country, and divide the amount you've saved by the number of weeks you'll be there--I didn't take into consideration the fact that I would need to buy food and toiletries and such. |
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 |
The equipo was often frustrated with the amount of English we were speaking. |
| 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 261 |
| 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? | Hang out with your compañeros! The most useful language-building skill for me was talking to people my age. Talk to your host family as much as you can, as well. |
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? | That I would be extremely frustrated with how little I was learning the entire semester, and that despite volunteering with two organizations, I would struggle with feeling like I was doing absolutely nothing all of the time. |
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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
