Super Santiago! Past Review
By Elizabeth K (Biological Research, Loras College) - abroad from 01/09/2012 to 05/07/2012 with
Universidad De Santiago de Compostela: Santiago de Compostela - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
It was absolutely worthwhile. It was a highly motivating experience and I face life with a better attitude than I did before I left. I am more confident in my ability to speak Spanish and can't wait to travel again.
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. |
Academic rigor was low but most of my learning occurred outside of class and more rigor may have been overwhelming. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Everyone was extremely helpful! |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
It was harder for me because I'm naturally introverted and needed a lot of alone time. Plus another person in our program was more extroverted and tends to "hog" new friends. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Don't go home with anybody and watch your friends. Don't accept any rosemary/herbs/gifts from gypsies. DON'T TOUCH THE CATERPILLARS. They are POISONOUS. I was lucky that a friend of mine suffers from allergies and happened to be carrying liquid Benadryl with her. |
| 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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| * 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? | ~50-75 Euros depending on how much travel I did that week. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | How much money you spend is totally up to you. You can travel as much or as little as you would like. It's frustrating and disappointing when you can't afford a trip your friends are going on (and this was the situation for me due to personal circumstances) but live within your means. |
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 |
VERY few English speakers there so we were essentially forced into full Spanish. My host mom didn't speak a word. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| 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? | 460 - Themes in Literature |
| 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? | Make a pact with your friends NOT to speak any English. How much English you speak will depend a lot on your group of friends. If they're not going to put in the effort to learn, it'll be harder. Make international friends, especially ones who don't speak any English because it'll make sure you're sticking with Spanish. |
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 somebody had told me the caterpillars are poisonous before I picked one up and broke out in hives. |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Academic or LinguistYou went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you! |
