BEYOND AMAZING Past Review
By Cleopatra W (Hispanic-American, Puerto Rican, and Mexican-American/Chicano Studies., The College of William and Mary) - abroad from 05/17/2012 to 06/24/2012 with
University of Cadiz: Cadiz - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
My experience abroad was amazing. I learned alot about the Spanish culture, I improved my Spanish and I learned alot about art history. It was definatelly worthwhile and I would love to do it all over again.
Personal Information
| 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. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Everyone involved in organizing the program was absolutely amazing. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My room was very small and I had to share it with another student. However, it didn't matter since I only used it to sleep. |
| * Food: |
The food was either wery good or very bad. There was a week when we were fed french fries twice a day. As much as I like french fries, it was getting way too much. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt 100% integrated. I absolutely loved the friendliness of the people. They do not shake hands, they hugg. I felt so integrated that I considered moving there. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I did get sick during my trip and I had a faculty member taking me to the ER. I was in and out in less then 30 minutes. They were very professional and upon my return to the US I got reimbursed for my hospital bill within two weeks. |
| * Safety: |
Never felt safer. |
| 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? | 100 Euros |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | One doesn't really need to spend money unless they want to. Everything necessary is provided. I spent most my money on ice cream and clothes. |
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 |
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| 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? | Fluent |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 10+ |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Do not hang out with your group all the time. Try to make friends from the host country and hang out with them. I made some great friends in Cadiz and spending time with them really helped me improve my language skills. When I was spending time with my American peers we always spoke in English...and that didn't help. |
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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| 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? | When I got to Spain I spent alot of time with my American friends and only in the last week of the program I started to hang out with Spanish people. Although, I love my American friends, I wish I started looking for Spanish friends from the very beggining. |
