Experiencing the World Outside the Smith Bubble Past Review
By A student (Smith College) - abroad from 01/22/2018 to 05/25/2018 with
PRESHCO: Study Abroad in Córdoba, Spain
I learned so much about experiencing other cultures and how people lived. It was incredibly worthwhile to immerse myself in a culture that wasn't my own.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The academic rigor was perfect for a semester spent learning other disciplines in a non native language. Fortunately, the intensity was very low and I had plenty of resources available. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
It was really great to have half of my classes solely through the PRESHCO program so I was able to attend classes a similar work load and schedule that I was used to. I was able to explore Spain and travel to various cities. Most of the learning I did throughout the program was done outside of class. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
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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? |
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| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I loved how much time I had to really experience that culture of Spain outside of school. I also loved how much I was able to travel around Europe. |
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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | probably about 30 euros |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Travel as much as you possibly can. Studying Abroad isn't about book learning and it's not really about what you do or learn in class. You learn the most outside of class by experiencing whatever the country has to offer. |
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 260 |
| 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? | Make local 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? | Becoming part of a different culture is not nearly as hard as it seems. |
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 Avid AdventurerThe wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal. |
