Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

My Spanish improved a lot, but I didn't learn much from my class at the University or the Spanish language class at Recoletos.

On-site administration of your program

This program has been around for a while, and they really know what they're doing. The whole thing works like clockwork.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived with a woman (about my mom's age) and her two children, a boy (17) and a girl (14). We lived in an apartment in the city, which was very comfortable. I had a great time with them. I lived in the neighborhood Arapiles. <br /><br /> Paloma (my host mother) was very helpful, but not overbearing. The apartment was very nice, and fairly well-situated, though not in the very center of the city. The housing was arranged by Tufts, and the neighborhood was very safe (I never felt unsafe), and, like the rest of the city, very pretty. There was a lovely little plaza right by the apartment. It was about 1/2 an hour away from the program center, and about 50 minutes away from the University. It was also about 20 minutes away from good nightlife spots.

The food was good, but not very healthy. We ate homemade French fries almost every night.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I had an absolutely wonderful time abroad. I made great friends and had great experiences traveling and being independent.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I never had any health issues, so I can't say much about how well health issues were addressed. However, I felt safe walking alone at night (though I probably shouldn't have) and never ran into any trouble at all.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

With so many English-speaking students around, it was hard to speak Spanish all the time. My Spanish definitely improved, but not as much as I had wanted it to.

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• Host Family

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• Americans