Go abroad, it'll change your life if you let it! Past Review
By Norma C (Psychology, Texas A&M University - College Station) - abroad from 12/21/2013 to 01/18/2014 with
Spain Study Abroad Reflections: Comprehensive Reviews of Past Programs
I learned a lot about the history, and culture of Spain. I learned to step out of my comfort zone and not be afraid of trying things/foods I'm not used to. I gained so much from this trip, from friendships, knowledge, a better understanding of the world, and an overall great experience that I'll never forget! It was definitely worthwhile and much more. The trip sparked an interest in me and I am excited to continue to explore our enormous and beautiful world.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The course I took was great because I learned a lot about the history, and culture of Spain. The class was small and each student got individualized attention. The provided us with whatever resources we needed, handouts, videos, etc. The class was not too difficult, but I still felt like I learned a lot. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The on-site administration of the program was great! Our director had so much knowledge and excitement about Spain. You could tell that he really loved his job. He was willing to work with us whenever we had specific requests. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I absolutely loved my living arrangements. My host family was great and really kind. They always encouraged us to speak Spanish with them and were very supportive of anything we needed. It was upsetting having to leave because I had gotten so close to them. However, I still keep in touch with my host mom and know that if I ever visit Spain again, I will have a place to stay. |
| * Food: |
I loved the food in Spain because I love sea food and our host mom cooked a lot of that. It took a while getting used to, but everything was great. Our host mom always had fresh home-cooked meals for us, when we ate at home and even when we went on trips outside of Granda. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt completely immersed and integrated into the local culture. I ate the same foods that the host family ate, followed their same routines, and did what they usually did. We had the chance to visit a few towns and that really gave me a perspective of the different types of cities in Spain. There is so much culture in Granda and it's a great way to explore a new place that is rich with history, culture, and beauty. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
There were no health issues during my program, but I am confident that they would have been handled well if there had been. |
| * Safety: |
Granda is a very safe city and general and I never felt like I wasn't safe. My advice for future students is: if you are going to go out late at night, always make sure you have a male with you, just as a safety precaution. |
| 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) |
I planned ahead and set a budget for myself before the trip. This helped me not overspend. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $90.00 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | -make sure you have money saved up for expenses during the trip, such as souvenirs, food, drinks, and outside trips -if you can eat at home with your host-family, do so. It'll save you some money and the food is usually more authentic anyways |
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 |
They always encouraged us to speak Spanish and this helped us become more fluent. It also gave me more confidence in my language skills because I was becoming better with each passing day. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Fluent |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Spanish Grammer |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 10+ |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Practice makes perfect! The only way you are going to improve your language skills are by practicing everyday. Don't be afraid to mess up. Everyone there is really understand and they know you are still learning. |
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? | Exactly how much trips to other cities would cost so that I could plan and budget accordingly. |
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. |
