Past Review

By Steven S (Spanish Language and Literature., SUNY - Binghamton) for

Spain Study Abroad Reflections: Comprehensive Reviews of Past Programs

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

Yes, it was very worthwhile. For so long now I have wanted to go to Madrid and I finally was able to accomplish that goal. I learned about the culture in Spain and how it differs slightly from the different autonomous communities. Madrid was an amazing place that I cannot wait to see again.

Personal Information

If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here:	Universiad Computense de Madrid
How much international exposure did you have prior to this program?	0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.	I took a class called Hispanic Short Story where we read various short stories from acclaimed Hispanic authors and most of them were very interesting and a good gateway into that author's train of thought and also the environment of that epoch. The second class I took was The History of Spain and that too proved to be very insightful. Since we were in Spain, it was good to know more about its back-story.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program	The staff was very helpful to all of our needs. I just wish that there were more program sponsored activities like the handbook said that there would be. That really is my only complaint because the staff was really wonderful.
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	The dorm's name was Colegio Mayor Mara and it was located on Paseo de Juan XXIII. This is a nice establishment. Everyone has their own room and bathroom. The colegio is run by nuns. There are only two washing machines and one dryer and I really wish that there was air conditioning in the bedrooms because during the summer the heat can be unbearable. There was also a dining room, a snack bar, a basketball court, a tennis court and a swimming pool. <br /><br /> The colegio was near the metro station, so we were able to go downtown rather easily. Sheets, pillows and towels were provided for us, so all we really needed to buy were toiletries and an electronic fan for the room. The staff treated us very well.
* Food:	Ham is very popular in Spain, so that could have caused problems for me since I do not eat ham, but there are so many other gastronomical choices in Spain. The food was delicious, I really liked the food that I ate in Spain. Lunch is a big meal and dinner is usually eaten after 9 PM and it typically consists of tapas which are like appetizer size portions that you share. A popular breakfast is a cup of hot chocolate with churros.
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	I don't believe that the program held enough activities, but for the ones that they did sponsor, were a good look into Spain's culture. I went to a flamenco show with them. They also took us to a salsa club. There was a bullfight, but I had already seen one and once was more than enough.
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?
* Safety:	Madrid is very clean. Spain is one of the "greener" countries.
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program?	Yes

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)
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	Anywhere from about $50-$250. If you go to a restaurant, then it might be expensive. If you want water, then specify that you want it from the tap or otherwise they will give you bottled water and you will be charged for it. Tapas are not expensive and make for a good meal if everybody shares theirs.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	Sometimes you may be charged for bread at restaurants that otherwise would seem to be complimentary. Not all restaurants will charge you for it though.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component?	Yes
Language acquisition improvement?	I was really excited to be in a completely Spanish speaking country. In Madrid, the Spaniards speak with a Castillian accent, which employs the use of the "theta". I liked it, although some may not be so quick to adjust to it since they are more accustomed to what is heard in the United States. Spain was a wonderful chance to practice speaking Spanish and I wish that I partook in it more than I did. The locals would rather that you speak Spanish than English because most of them do not really know English too well, so I spoke Spanish most of the time, except to other adults.
If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Dorm
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Americans
* Who did you take classes with? Select all that apply	Americans

A Look Back

* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	This was a great once in a lifetime experience and you should definitely go even if you do not know Spanish because there are courses taught in English and maybe you will decide to pick up the language during or after your experience.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	Hispanic Short Story
Course Department:	M4930
Instructor:	Dr. Bermudez
Instruction Language:	Spanish
Comments:	This course was really interesting based on the various short stories that we read from famous Hispanic authors. I was familiar with a majority of the writers and some of the stories, so for the ones that I already read it was a nice review and a good opportunity to see and hear other perspectives. Dr. Bermudez was a fair and very knowledgeable about the subjects and the authors' lives. He really wanted us to ask questions and he gave us time in class to complete our homework so that we were not swamped with work during the month.
Credit Transfer Issues:	My credits will not transfer until after I have completed this evaluation, so hopefully the transfer goes through very smoothly.

Course Name/Rating:	History of Spain
Course Department:	A4470
Instructor:	Dr. Bermudez
Instruction Language:	Spanish
Comments:	The History of Spain was a good class to take because it taught us all about the background of the country in that we currently studying. Dr. Bermudez again always asked if any of us had any questions about the topics that we read. He gave us time in class to answer the questions in the back of the book on each chapter. He was a fair grader and very willing to provide assistance when needed. I learned a lot about Spain's history from this class.
Credit Transfer Issues:	My credits will not transfer until after I have completed this evaluation, so hopefully the transfer goes through very smoothly.