The Trip of a Lifetime Past Review
By Kelly Hamilton (Texas A&M University - College Station) - abroad from 06/01/2016 to 06/30/2016 with
Spain Study Abroad Reflections: Comprehensive Reviews of Past Programs
I learned a lot about myself and the world in general. It was so worth all the paperwork, applications, etc. A trip like that is very rare once you graduate.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The classes I took were a great level for me, as I had not taken Spanish in over a year. I was technically supposed to be one level higher, but the level I was in ended up being perfect. |
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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 very welcoming, could speak a little English in case my roommate and I really couldn't understand her, and made great food. I absolutely loved her. |
| * Food: |
She mixed up the meals and made sure to tell us to let her know if we didn't like something so she wouldn't make it again. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
We had a lot of free time to explore and talk with locals just walking around. Also the excursions were really great and cultural. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I felt very safe all the time in the city but I always liked having one of the boys walk me home at night, especially if it was late. Just to be safe. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I had an amazing time; loved the food, the city, the culture, the people. And a lot of students from A&M were there so it will be easy to keep in touch. |
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) |
Since every meal was already paid for, the only money we needed to spend was on excursions and food at night if we chose to go out. Everything was pretty cheap. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | ~50 euros |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Go to your host home every chance you can to eat because it's already paid for and will reduce additional money you have to spend. |
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? | 102; second part of the beginner level |
| 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? | Make an effort to speak the language with your host family because you will learn much more than just in the classroom. |
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 fast it flies 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 UrbaniteA 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. |
