Adventurous and Bittersweet 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. I learned that I enjoy living in the U.S. and that a semester is just enough for me to be abroad.
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. |
My academic experience was not the best. I felt that the professors tried their best to accommodate the needs of PRESHCO students in their classes. However, it was difficult to learn with the different teaching styles of my Spanish professors. I think that the PRESHCO professors were better at making the classes both challenging and interesting while at the same time, making the process smooth and clear for us to understand the lectures. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The equipo were very helpful and responded to our concerns at a quick pace. They were approachable and friendly! |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My room was nice and cozy. It had everything that I needed. My host mom did her best to make me feel at home. I would have liked some heating when the night was cold. |
| * Food: |
My host mom was very dependable and liked giving us all sorts of foods for lunch and dinner. The quality was good! She was open to suggestions about the food. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I enjoyed learning and experiencing Spanish culture, but I don't think I was ever truly integrated in the local culture. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
The equipo recommended pharmacies to visit when someone was sick during the tour. However, they didn't seem so concerned when the majority of us were sick during the tour. It wasn't until we arrived in Cordoba, that some of us visited the doctor. |
| * Safety: |
The equipo did a great job at giving us advice on how to be safe in Spain. They also required us to give them information about any travels that we would make in Spain or out of Spain. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I would do the program again because there were a couple of great things that the program offered. I also made new friends and had new experiences because of the program. |
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) |
It was hard to keep a stable budget because I wasn't working and making my own money while I was abroad. A lot of my expenses were personal, such as travel. I would give a 4. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 20 to 30 euros |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | I definitely think that students should get a credit card to avoid fees. |
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 was easy to practice my Spanish because every day, I would speak it and my writing/reading skills were exercised during class or when I had assignments. Also, the equipo and my host family encouraged me to use the language. |
| 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? | 245 |
| 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? | Future study abroad participants should try to socialize more with Spaniards and refrain from using English. |
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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* 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? | 0 |
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 it takes quite a while to get reimbursed for air travel to and from Spain and that Spaniards really love to eat tortilla. |
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.' |
