IT WAS AMAZING! Once in a lifetime experience that everyone should have! Past Review
By Tina B (PSYCHOLOGY., University of California - Riverside) - abroad from 08/31/2013 to 12/21/2013 with
Spain Study Abroad Reflections: Comprehensive Reviews of Past Programs
I learned so many things about myself as well as the world. I can definitely say that I have more of an international, or world view now. I've learned how to effectively manage time. I've become less materialistic, and I'm glad. I don't need clothes and shiny jewelry to make me happy. I would rather travel, explore, and learn different things that would enrich my knowledge and teach me things that I could benefit from in the future. I learned that language is beautiful. Each and every one is built with culture and traditions that make it unique. I met people from all over the world that are now a part of my life. It's crazy to see how different people from different countries view me (an American). And how I view them. I've learned how to become more responsible and the value of money. I now know how much I love my family and how much they have paid for me raising me as a child. I learned to love. I learned to respect. Words cannot fully describe how much and to what extent I have learned while being abroad. But what I do know is that every single experience has made an impact on me in my life today. No matter how small or how big. It has made me a better individual. And I wouldn't trade it for the world.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Easy classes, awesome professors. Small school, so students got alot of attention. Also was allowed to miss up to four days of school a month, which I definitely took advantage of. Use those days to explore the rest of Europe! |
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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? |
My host mom was an amazing cook! And her kids and grandchildren would always come over to eat with us. |
| * Food: |
GREAT! However, I did get a little picky with the meat. I wasn't the biggest fan of the meat in general. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
My Spanish improved IMMENSELY! Just being in the country and being forced to speak the language made a huge impact. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Awesome. No doctor prescriptions are needed for pharmacies in Spain. I did get sick a few times while abroad. But it was an easy fix. I did my research on what I specifically needed and just dropped by the pharmacy to pick it up. Doctor visits are also all reimbursed by most health care policies. It usually costed people around $40 USD. |
| * Safety: |
Safe for the most part. I never got pickpocketed while abroad. However, there were a few people in my program that either got money or their phones stolen. |
| 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) |
Pretty easy. Just watch where you're money is spent. Flight tickets are what I spent the most on. Make sure not to spend too much in visiting cities that are more expensive such as London or Paris. While I was in Spain, there was never a problem with this. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $150 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | If you want to travel around Europe, always try to fly with Ryanair. They are by far the cheapest flights you will find in Europe. Also look into trains and buses for closer forms of transportation. These will save you lots of money. |
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 |
I lived with a host family that spoke almost no English. It was a given for me to practice Spanish. |
| 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? | High school, Spanish 4 |
| 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? | Practice, practice, practice. |
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? |
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? | How common it is for students to backpack and travel other countries within Europe. I was not expecting to be traveling to other countries as well. But boy, I'm so glad I did. A heads up would have been nice, so I would know how to more effectively manage my money. |
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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
