A semester in Spain! Past Review
By A student (Oberlin College) - abroad from 01/25/2019 to 05/27/2019 with
PRESHCO: Study Abroad in Córdoba, Spain
I learned a lot about the Spanish school system and culture and discovered it was more different than I'd originally expected. I also had the opportunity to go outside my comfort zone and be more independent.
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. |
Taking direct enrollment classes was stressful, especially at first because we were just sort of thrown in and given a week to decide which classes we wanted to stick with for the semester and then it took a long time before we were even properly enrolled or had access to moodle. Nonetheless, it was absolutely a worthwhile experiece and I think a big factor towards improving my Spanish. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The PRESHCO administration is absolutely wonderful! They are all very sweet people who are very much there to take care of you. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Unlike a lot of other people in the program, I never really developed that warm and fuzzy "2nd family" sort of relationship with my host family, and there were far too many times where my host family went out to eat and then I was left with a frozen lasagna. Nonetheless they were nice enough and I was fed and given a place to sleep and good exposure to Spanish culture, so I can't complain too much! |
| * Food: |
As mentioned above, I was fed far too many frozen lasagnas, but otherwise the food was great! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I was definitely integrated to some extent just by living with a host family and taking direct-enrollment classes with Spanish students. However, I never did make any Spanish friends. I think this is in large part due to my own shyness though. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I had no health problems, but the staff was wonderful and would certianly be able to take you to any healthcare you need at the drop of a hat. |
| * Safety: |
Córdoba is a very safe city, even late at night. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
If "do it all over again" means specifically "go to Spain all over again", then I'd definitely do PRESHCO again. Otherwise, I think I might pick a different country just because I didn't really mesh with Spanish culture all that well (it is very partying heavy and I am very not). |
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) |
They cover everything you need and even give you money to cover food expenses on program trips, so any money you are spending is for extra snacks and things like that. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $10-$20 |
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? | 300 level college courses |
| 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?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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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 Spain has such an intense partying culture. |
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 Academic or LinguistYou went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you! |
