Self-discovery even through hard times Past Review
By A student (International Relations, Economics, Tufts University) - abroad from 01/13/2012 to 05/23/2012 with
Tufts Programs Abroad: Tufts in Madrid
While there were many aspects of this experience that I didn't love, it's definitely not an experience that I regret. I met people on my program who will be my friends for life. No matter where you live abroad, you will always learn something about yourself. Through going abroad I learned so much about myself, and about what I want out of life, and what makes me happy. Not every experience in life is positive, and I think that going through an experience that had a lot of challenges and frustrations helped me figure out how to deal with them, and what I don't want to deal with ever again!
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | Behavioral Economics |
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The courses run by the program were definitely challenging (though could be improved in certain aspects), but I didn't learn much at the class I took at UAM. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I felt like it could have been a but more organized in certain aspects, especially with dealing with the university. I still don't understand why we were sent to UAM, when there are many more universities closer to the city of Madrid, that are ranked much higher academically. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I had a very nice room, and fast internet. My family was very nice and always made me eat dinner with them (which was sometimes annoying but also helped me improve my Spanish). Sometimes I did feel smothered, and that she thought I couldn't do things for myself (see my example about salad dressing below--I know how to do it!). I wasn't thrilled with the neighborhood, but it was close enough to the center. However, I absolutely dreaded going home for dinner every night, because of the food I knew I had to eat. See below. |
| * Food: |
This was probably one of my least favorite parts about Spain in general. First, I learned that Spanish food is not for me. After spending 5 months in South America as a vegetarian, I expected this to be a much more enjoyable experience, but I was very wrong. Most of the food in Madrid is fried, unhealthy and very meat oriented. There is very little variety to Spanish food in general, so whenever I went out I ate tortilla, and that was about it. As for the food with my host family, I stressed many times on my housing questionnaire that a healthy, vegetarian family was my number one priority. While they did feed me vegetarian food, and I helped them improve their health, again I had very little variety. Most nights I would receive a plate of beans, and nothing more. While I love beans, I quickly got tired of eating them (what's that thing about balanced meals? Didn't exist in my house), and Spain isn't really huge on the vegetables. We probably used a liter of olive oil a week. We ate deep fried eggs and french fries and bananas...after a while my persistence did pay off somewhat, and I finally got my host mother to give me brown rice and not give me french fries! It also annoyed me that she wouldn't let me serve myself or choose my portions, I couldn't even put dressing on my own salad!! Some people asked me why I didn't change--because from what I had heard from the other "healthy" eaters in my program, their situations weren't much better. But my living situation was not what I was looking for food-wise--I wanted someone who ate like I did and I just fit into their lives, instead of a family that had to accommodate my eating habits. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Honestly, I was not very integrated at all. Some of it was by choice, but I didn't find Madrilenos my age very welcoming. I also didn't like the aspect of the culture that their life is in the streets, rather than in their home. I never set foot in a house of a Spanish friend, because that's just not what you do. I also spent very little time at the university, and felt like they could have done so much more to help integrate foreign students into daily life, such as language exchange programs, socials, parties, etc. |
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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 at night, and walked through the city at all hours alone and with other people. I never had a problem with any safety issues, but of course it is a big city so you have to be mindful of your belongings, etc. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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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) |
We were given a weekly stipend of 77 euros a week for lunch, had breakfast and dinner provided and were also reimbursed for |
| * Was housing included in your program cost? | Yes |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | Yes |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $100 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Save money before you arrive for traveling! Don't go out to eat every time your meal isn't provided--find your local grocery store and fruit and vegetable stands. That way you can save money and eat healthier! |
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 |
We were always encouraged to speak in Spanish, no matter where we were or who we were with. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Advanced Conversation, 5 months in Chile |
| 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? | You can learn a lot by speaking with your host family. But if you really want to become fluent, you have to become friends with students your age, and engage in everyday conversation. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? | 0 |
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? | I think I would have lowered my expectations A LOT. After going abroad on a different Tufts program that I loved, I had high expectations that I don't think were met. I wish that I had been even more clear about my expectations about food, and had changed host families. |
