Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Thank god I got to travel outside of Spain January 13, 2025

By (Political Science, Wellesley College) - abroad from 08/31/2024 to 12/17/2024 with

PRESHCO: Study Abroad in Córdoba, Spain

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained some lovely friends and got to see the world!!! Unfortunately, I can say I had a bad experience with PRESHCO but loved everything I got to see and experience.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The classes were not great. I really only had one class I enjoyed but other than that they were either too big, or the professor was extremely unpleasant in some way shape or form.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

I appreciate that I was looked after, but these ladies were constantly on my back! And when I needed them the most, they yelled at me, literally. I am not sure if this was their full time job or not but it sure felt like I was baeing babysat the whole time.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I had to move host families at first because my original host mom had lied about who lived in the house, made comments about my race and weight, and got me in a car crash. My second host family left me alone for the most part, but there were too many nights I went hungry and had to purchase clothes because I would not get my laundry back for weeks on end.

* Food:

Spanish food is alright, but not being able to control what I ate was so so so terrible. There were too many nights that I went hungry because I was not given enough food, or it was a food I could not eat. I felt too uncomfortable and cannot afford going out or ordering food in, so I just didn't eat a lot of the time.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I will put it simply: I am Mexican, and the Spanish did not want any part of me, so in return, I did not want any part of them.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

It was fine. Only thing was that I had to call ahead of time to get a "guarantee of payment" and the instructions of that was not clear, but there was one time I literally could not talk due to vomitting and they still had me do so. I get its a formaliity, but it delayed my visit by 2 hours.

* Safety:

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

I would go back to Spain but probably a different city or the middlebury program where the students got to live in apartments and there people were based in Madrid so they got a lot of independence.

Finances

* 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 was not maming income but saved up from working this summer!

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 300
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Use budget sites to book hotels and flights!

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

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

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Fluent
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Fluent
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Wellesley 300 level Spanish class
How many hours per day did you use the language? 10+
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? I already spoke Spanish coming in! I think it got better in terns of expanding my vocabulary, but for any Latinos out there: they might encourage you to pick up the accent or not say certain words, but stay true to yourself!! Spanish is Spanish and everyone has the right to speak it how they please.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
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?
  • Friends. Made some great ones!
  • n/a
  • n/a
* What could be improved?
  • Housing. The families need to be CHECKED for racisim and homophobia.
  • Location. Cordoba is great but there is not a lot to do. There was like one club and it was hard to travel outside of it. I manage but you can't keep college students locked away in a small city for a whole semester.
  • Activities. We had too much together time at the beginning of the semester so when it was over I wanted nothing to do with all 18 of us as a group togehter. If it were more spread out I would have been open to spending time with people
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew that people were going to be really racist and that the host family ultimately was not for me. I wish I would have thought about what it might mean to live with one, but everyone seemed to have a good experience so I assumed I would too. Maybe I just got unlucky but it was bad and wish I had a headsup. I would have done a better job of communicating my needs to the program.

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 Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.