I had a good experience! March 28, 2023
By Sophie W (Urban and Regional Planning, Virginia Commonwealth University / VCU) - abroad from 09/01/2022 to 12/17/2022 with
SAI Study Abroad: Barcelona - Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (UAB)
I learned to accept change, learn how to maintain long-distance friendships, and worked a volunteering job with a language barrier. Learned some social skills and how to communicate with people outside of my own country. It was extremely worthwhile.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived right next to La Sagrada Familia in a great apartment. |
| * 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 really liked the experiences that SAI had to offer. They had fun activities and weekend excursions for us to participate in and get to know people in our program. Going to UAB was really nice because students were from all over and not just from my 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) |
I spent about $100 a month on food and bought almost all my food at the store but if you go out to eat it would probably be around $100 a week if you went out five times a week. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $30 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Save in advance, and if you find yourself low, buy food at the grocery store to cook at home! |
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? | Beginner |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Beginner |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | I hadn't taken spanish since middle school |
| 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? | Find a cafe, and visit it with your friends and only speak that language! |
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? | 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? | So many fun activities is something that SAI provides it's students. |
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! |
