Great Program! June 24, 2025
By Dipshika T (Community and Global Health, Lehigh University) - abroad from 01/27/2025 to 05/11/2025 with
SIT Study Abroad: Spain - Social Movements, Democracy, and Cultural Identity
Living in Seville for 3 months showed me a totally different way of life compared to the nonstop rush back home in the U.S. People there really take time to enjoy life. This can be seen through siestas, long meals, and slowing down, which are normal. This made me realize how much we're always trying to just get things done quickly back home.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The courses required mostly essays and powerpoint presentations (mostly in groups) but to ME it felt pretty easy. For the independent study, you can choose to do research on any relevant topic of your choice. |
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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? |
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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
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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) |
Meals are provided by homestays 3x a day. During program excursions, meals are provided/ money for meals are provided. If you want to eat out on you own time, you can get a good meal for $15 or less. |
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? | None |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Intermediate |
| 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? | Speak it with your home stay hosts |
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? | I wish I had known how important it is to brush up on basic Spanish before arriving, especially if choosing a homestay. While I wasn't expecting my host family to speak fluent english, I was under the impression that they would be able to communicate basic english with us. However, i was surprised by my host mom speaking no english at all. But no worries because we used google translate for everything. It was tricky at times but it helped me a lot. |
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. |
