Past Review
By Melissa W (Spanish Language and Literature., SUNY - Binghamton) for
SUNY Oswego: Barcelona - University of Barcelona
I have no regrets. I enjoyed every minute of my time abroad. I felt this experience matured me and showed me a different side of life that I have no yet seen until now. I hope to travel to more countries in order to experience new cultures.
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | Unvirsity of Barcelona |
| 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. |
It was difficult getting used to the teaching and grading methods at first. Once I learned the routine and what I need to do in order to do well in my classes, I was less nervous and was able to successfully complete my studies abroad. There is no other experience like studying in another country, because it shows you how different the teaching methods are in foreign countries. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
We had a few advisors and administrators who helped set up our classes and get us settled. Maria Luz and Maria Celaya were two very helpful administrators for our program. Sometimes things were a bit out of order, but they were always there to help sort out any problem we may have had. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Residencia Roca on Carrer de Ciutat de Balaguer. This place treated us very well. The majority of the girls living at this dorm spoke only Spanish, so it was hard for the few english speakers to get along with everyone at first. As time went on we all started to feel more comfortable and made some great friends while staying there. <br /><br /> I liked the area of Barcelona I lived in because it was very safe. It was relatively far from the school and a lot of the main attractions. Conveniently there was a bus stop right around the corner and a metro station not too far. I would certainly recommend this place for anyone looking for a dorm in Barcelona. |
| * Food: |
Good quaility. A lot better than you would expect from a dorm. The food in general is different from what I am used to, so that is the only reason I was not always satisfied. It is great trying new things, but not when I have no idea what it is I am eating since the weekly menu was in their native language (Catalan) |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Our program took us on a few trips which were very interesting and fun. We went to the dali museum and a wine tour. These events brought our whole group together and everyone in the program became very close friends. We would enjoy the beach and night life together on a regular basis. As a result we also were able to meet many locals and enjoy the cities attractions with them as well. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I always felt very safe and taken care of. I did have one incident where I badly injured my leg. I did not know how to go about seeing a dr. or getting medical care. I decided it best to wait and luckily my leg healed on its own. I know that if I was in need of any serious medical treatment I could have gotten it without a doubt. It was the language barrier initially that prevented me from finding a dr. |
| 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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Although we did receieve free meals on a regular basis, we often ate in restaurants and cafes. Also we all did a lot of shopping for ourselves and for friends and family. I would say I spent about 200 per week. It did vary per week. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | I would say that it is very important to budget yourself. I myself got a bit excited when it came to spending my money while abroad, and I learned my lesson the hard way when I ran out of money a month before the program ended. Unanticipated costs are usually extra food, clothes, night life and souvenirs. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
I was a Spanish major before going abroad and already knew a decent amount of Spanish. I believe that actually going to Spain and having to speak the language regularly is what truly helps develop your language skills. |
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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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Someone studying Spanish language or culture would benefit greatly from this. This program I believe can truly be for anyone looking to experience life in a foreign country. It is welcoming, fun, interesting and definitely once in a lifetime. |
