The Amazing Spain Adventure Past Review
By jalisa.winkle (Nebraska Wesleyan University) - abroad from 06/01/2012 to 07/01/2012 with
Spain Study Abroad Reflections: Comprehensive Reviews of Past Programs
Yes it was worthwhile, I learned that I just have to be myself and not really care about what other people think about. Also, that everyone has the same problems whether they speak English or Spanish or are gay or straight or whatever. People are just people, all with the same problems.
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. |
challenging, but fun |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
very accommodating, helpful, and pleasant |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Amazing, loved staying with a host family and learned as much from them as I did in the classroom |
| * Food: |
Great! loved it whole hardheartedly. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
It took awhile to get used to, but it was great once I did. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
there were many options available to me, though I did not have to use any. There weren't any health issues I had to deal with upon entering this program. |
| * Safety: |
I felt very safe there. |
| 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) |
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| * Was housing included in your program cost? | Yes |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | Yes |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 70 euros |
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? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | spanish 3 |
| 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? | Get out as much as possible with native speakers Talk to your host family a lot Get lost and have to ask for directions |
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? |
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? | What an amazing place Spain is and the best way to learn is to get there and talk to anyone and everyone. |
