Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

An Immeasurable Experience November 09, 2023

By (Northern Arizona University) - abroad from 06/05/2023 to 07/16/2023 with

SIT Study Abroad: Spain - Sustainable Urban Development & Social Justice

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned about the stark differences between sustainable development and overall urban planning in the EU, specifically Spain, and the United States. This information was heavily reliant on experiential learning and it was 100% worthwhile.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I had an unforgettable and immeasurable experience in Spain with SIT. Although an intensive program it was full of valuable information taught by experienced professors and professionals alike. SIT provided ample resources and student aid throughout the program's entirety.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The host program administration was fantastic. The coordinators and program directors were kind, helpful, and supportive in all ways throughout the program.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The housing was wonderful, my host family was kind and welcoming and made me feel at home thousands of miles away from my home.

* Food:

The food in Bilbao was absolutely amazing!

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The cultural knowledge that SIT provided was wonderful. Given the short time period of the program, there was less social integration within the community of Bilbao but I can see that being different for a longer program.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I never had to deal with any health-related issues while on my program but from the information provided by the academic directors on the health care system it seemed wonderful.

* Safety:

I felt very safe in Bilbao.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

This program showed me where I want to go in my career and I am currently awaiting an admissions decision for a master's program in Belgium.

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)

3.5 - I would say that I was able to live fairly well on a student budget in Bilbao. The only extra expenses I had were extra travel done during the program.

Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Account for extra personal travel

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

Although our program was in English our program directors encouraged us to try to speak Spanish with our host families if we had some Spanish background.

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? Intermediate

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
  • Hotel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The experience
  • The people
  • The knowledge
* What could be improved?
  • The social inclusion
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew how busy it would be - not in a bad way but how many things SIT set up for us and how quickly it would go by.

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.