Broadened perspective/worldview & deepened appreciation for cultural exchange Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The classes are, overall, less demanding than classes in US universities in terms of outside reading and classwork. You must take 2 classes within UCO and 2 classes with the PRESHCO program (which I believe was a new policy starting this year), though it is possible to petition for an exception. I took one 4th year course (senior level) in both semesters and found this to be slightly more on par with the difficulty and rigor of Smith classes, so if you're coming in with a high language level and want to challenge yourself, I recommend taking 4th year classes (They also tend to have more interesting subjects, for example, I took a class on the origins of monotheistic religion that was excellent.)

On-site administration of your program

I think overall, the PRESHCO team did a really great job preparing us for the difficulties of acclimating to the Spanish university system and the cultural differences in general. They were also great about communicating in a timely manner. There were times that I thought communication could have been more considerate, to avoid causing unnecessary anxiety in non-emergency situations.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I had such a wonderful experience with my host family (especially my host mother) and I feel our relationship was a central part of my success throughout my year abroad. Learning to live in another person's home was a new experience for me, but I found it to be so rewarding and a great way to gain deeper understanding of Spanish culture. I watched the news with my host mom every day during lunch and she would patiently answer all my questions about the political situation, or define any new words. I expanded my vocabulary so much talking with her! I know that, in some part, host family arrangements are luck of the draw but I truly think that PRESHCO has great, longtime host families and are very good at matching students to hosts who will be able to best support them.

I'm a pescatarian, and I also avoid dairy. While eating out with the program, they did a great job making sure our food needs were met (though the non-meat/non-dairy options at the restaurants were not always great.) In Córdoba I mostly ate at home, because my host mom was a fantastic cook, and though it took me a bit to adapt to the amount of oil used in Spanish cooking, I eventually came to love it! Spanish food gets a bad rep for being all potatoes and bread, and while those are central components of the cuisine, there are also plenty of dishes that incorporate vegetables. I also gained a certain appreciation for fried food - my favorite Spanish dish of all time is berenjenas fritas a la miel (fried eggplant with honey!)

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I personally was not interested in going out to clubs and bars, though I know people who did (in Córdoba) and heard good things about the nightlife scene there. I found it a bit difficult to become friends with Spanish university students, which lessened my cultural integration, but I did get to experience local festivals and celebrations (Semana Santa, Cruces, la Feria etc.) and living there the whole year I do feel I was able to become more integrated with the general rhythm and lifestyle of Córdoba.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I did not have any healthcare issues while abroad so I feel unable to rate/comment on this aspect.

I felt very safe at all times in Córdoba. I lived in a very quiet and safe area, which was well-lit at night, and the program was always very attentive in warning us about safety while we were out on excursions in other cities.

I chose PRESHCO for its location, the support the program offered to students, and its cultural reimbursement program, and those remain the reasons that it was the best choice for me.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

I found it very easy, as I ate almost all my meals at home, and did not have many external costs. The reimbursement program is also amazing! I used it to buy Spanish comic books, tickets for things like the Córdoba horse show, and for any travel within Spain, and it really helped me make the most of my time here.

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

This was one aspect that I strongly feel could have been improved, and I believe the director is committed to doing things differently in the future. There was a stated commitment to speak Spanish within the program at all times but it was not followed by everyone, and most of the time the program members looked the other way and did not force people to speak in Spanish. I feel this ultimately lessened the language immersion aspect, although it's definitely a case of "you get out of it what you put into it," so if you're willing

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• Host Family

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• Americans
• Host Family

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• Local Students
• Americans
• International Students

• The cultural reimbursements
• Connecting with my host family
• The presence of the program and their support

• More compassion and consideration in anxiety-inducing situations
• More guidance regarding UCO classes and how to best communicate with professors
• Not assuming everyone is an extrovert and enjoys long, extremely social functions

The Academic or Linguist