Syracuse in Madrid - the best semester ever! Past Review
By Chelsea E (International Relations and Affairs., Tufts University) for
Syracuse University: Madrid - Syracuse University in Madrid
Absolutely! I learned a lot about myself, made new friends with whom I will keep in touch for the rest of my life, improved my Spanish, learned a lot about Spanish art and culture, expanded my horizons through travel and new experiences, and made great connections with my host family.
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. |
While the workload was very light and the grading system generous, I still learned a lot because of the hands-on learning approach. It was great to study Art history and be able to visit a museum and see the paintings we studied in person. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The program did a great job responding to students' needs - from serious things like host-family changes to fun things like where to go for lunch. The signing up for classes process was very smooth and administrators where there along the way to answer questions, etc. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I liked how I was able to live with a host family AND an american roommate. I did not need to buy any items to settle in and I was treated both like a family member and a guest by my host family - they were very gracious, generous and hospitable. My neighborhood was very safe - it was the "wealthy" area of Madrid and I never felt like my safety was at risk, even at night. The program administrators worked hard to place friends in the same neighborhood. |
| * Food: |
Going out to lunch is expensive - pack a lunch!!! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
We had a field trip to southern spain (Granada, Seville, and Cordoba) that was great. The professors who came with us made excellent tour guides and we definitely explored the food and night life! |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Madrid was relatively safe - only some petty thefts. The program did a great job explaining where the "bad" neighborhoods were and what kind of things to look out for. They also responded quickly to any safety concerns. No prevalent health issues, but we had a doctor/nurse on site for physical and psychological needs. |
| 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? | 170 euros plus more when I traveled. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | It was very expensive to go out to clubs - look out for club promoters to get good deals. Going out to lunch also adds up - go to the grocery store and stock up on snacks! |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Spanish Literature |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
I practiced Spanish in the classroom, with my host family, with professors, and with natives in the country. Yes, I needed to use the host country language in every day interactions. Many people, but not most, spoke English. |
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? | Definitely go on this program - the pre-departure trip is a unique experience that lets you explore Europe, get comfortable with the idea of studying abroad before settling down in Spain, and meet new friends in a more intimate setting before meeting up with the whole program. |
