Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Trip of a lifefime Past Review

By (University of Northern Iowa) - abroad from 01/11/2016 to 05/20/2016 with

University of Northern Iowa: Oviedo - Study Abroad at Universidad de Oviedo / LCDLL

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained many friends, improved on my Spanish, learned more about myself, gained independence, and became a traveler instead of a tourist. It was definitely worthwhile.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I went into the program nervous and skeptical that my Spanish would never improve. I left the program with confidence and the ability to understand much more Spanish than ever before.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

There is not anything negative I could say about studying at the University of Oviedo. I'm being honest when I say it was the best experience of my life. I met and grew with so many people from all over the United States and from around the world. You learn more about yourself and your surroundings. I grew so much as an individual.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Living with a host family is the best way to learn more about the culture, language, and lifestyle.

* Food:

The food is AMAZING. I miss it already. It is so fresh and flavorful.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I had some native friends from Spain that would practice their English with me and I would practice my Spanish. I definitely become more knowledgeable outside of the classroom.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Spain's health care is a lot different than ours. Throughout my five months being there I never had experiences with it. I did not notice any issues and yes, there were vaccines for this trip.

* Safety:

There was not one time where I felt like I was in danger. I will say that Oviedo is home to a lot of elderly people, making the city very calm.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Oviedo is not a tourist city. Not many people travel there, like the south. However, I found out after traveling around Europe that Oviedo is home. I could have spent weeks in Amsterdam, but I was always anxious to return to Oviedo. It had that home feeling. It was a great place to come home to after spending a few days away.

Finances

* 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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Hardly any at all. My host mom prepared all of my food. It just depended if I went away for the weekend, then that money would come out of my pocket.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Eating out is fun, but stay in and eat with your host family! Practice your Spanish as well. Make your money's worth.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Beginner
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 Writing
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? Get a conversational partner! There are flyers everywhere in the University building. Take advantage of that.

Direct Enrollment/Exchange

* Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? Direct Enrollment

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 10+

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • People
  • Experiences
  • Food
* What could be improved?
  • The trip was amazing, except for the weather. Which is impossible to change!
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? How hard it would be to leave.

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 Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.