6 Months I Will Never Forget Past Review
By A student (The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 01/11/2016 to 06/26/2016 with
Universidad de Pompeu Fabra (UPF): Barcelona - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
Definitely worthwhile and a once in a lifetime experience!
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Since Universitat Pompeu Fabra does trimesters, I was able to separate my classes (2 classes the first three months, and 1 class the last three months). The classes were fairly simple and I had a lot of free time to explore Barcelona. |
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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 advisor pretty much only recommended one apartment in Barcelona close to my university, therefore I chose to stick it out. Little did I know that this apartment (MelonDistrict Marina) is extremely overpriced. I made friends who have way nicer apartments and are paying half of what I pay. Make sure you do your research on all living arrangements (host families included) before you settle down on one place. |
| * Food: |
Since I was on an exchange program and not with an affiliate program, I was responsible for all my food expenses. I found a local grocery store and bought groceries every 1-2 weeks. Oh, and tapas are a MUST in Spain! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I've come to learn that Spanish locals aren't the friendliest, but maybe that's just in Barcelona since there are so many tourists. Already knowing Spanish helped me a lot in tough situations, but even if you don't know the language, practicing every day with others helps a lot. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Besides the abundant amount of pick-pocketing and theft, Barcelona is relatively a safe city. I was a victim of theft the first month I arrived in Barcelona and it was a horrible experience. With that being said, always keep an eye on your belongings and always be aware of your surroundings. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
Although I had an amazing experience in Barcelona, I would probably prefer to choose an affiliate program rather than an exchange program. It was harder to meet new people since I came alone/with only 5 other students from my university. The only pro about my exchange program was that it was way cheaper. |
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) |
I went out to eat occasionally and spent a decent amount on groceries every 1-2 weeks. However, traveling expenses adds up quickly and there are so many ways money can easily be blown. Whether it's shopping, drinks, flights, or food, always keep track of your budget. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $100-$200 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Book flights in advance as much as possible - the earlier you buy flights, the cheaper! For every city you visit, compare the prices between Airbnb's and hostels to try to find the best deal. As tempting as it is to eat out a lot, try to cook meals at home as much as possible. As for souvenir shops in Barcelona - a lot of times the vendors will bargain with you. If you act like you don't want the item anyone, they will give you a cheaper price. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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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? | I wish I knew how quickly money adds up, especially on traveling. It's all worth it in the end though. I wish I knew how hard it would be to make new friends coming from an exchange program. Looking back, I wish I could put myself out there more. Don't be afraid to talk to locals! |
