Alicante-- El mejor tierra del mundo Past Review
By Hanna A (Bioengineering, University of Maine - Orono) - abroad from 05/25/2015 to 06/30/2015 with
USAC Spain: Alicante - Spanish Language, Linguistics, European, Mediterranean, and Gender Studies
I gained so much knowledge about the customs and differences of the culture, as expected, and also many new friendships from unexpected places. Furthermore, the multitude of experiences definitely have bolstered my own image of myself and the things that I am capable of, such as traveling outside of the US for the first time, by myself. Also, the confidence I developed in my language skills increased enormously as I relaxed and realized that it's ok to make mistakes because the people there are happy to help you get it right (let's face it, you're going to stand out no matter what so they already know it's not your first language). Then, when you get complimented on your accent or the way you speak, it really means the world.
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. |
Classes were easier than expected, but I still learned a lot. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The USAC program advisors from Alicante make it their priority to engage and educate the students in the Spanish culture, and you can tell that they love nothing more than to share their city's customs. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I had a host-mom who spoke maybe one word of English, however the relationship and language exposure I gained from the direct immersion were some of the most beneficial things I could have done during my stay to improve my speaking and listening skills. |
| * Food: |
Paella. Tapas. Sangria. Everything is amazing and fresh. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
USAC placed all its students smack-dab in the hub of the city, which was awesome for getting around and seeing the everyday life of the Spanish people. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I had no experience with health care personally, but many of my friends were taken care of quickly. |
| * Safety: |
Alicante is a very safe city in that it's a fairly small and cozy location compared to Barcelona or Valencia. It was perfect for me for that reason because I didn't feel quite as overwhelmed. The streets are really well-lit at night and there are usually a lot of people out on the streets at that time, so I hardly ever felt worried when walking alone. The worst crime that occurs there, as in most places, is pick-pocketing, which I did not experience. Just make sure to keep an eye on your belongings and never bring large amounts of cash just walking around or to a night out. |
| 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) |
I lived with a host mother, so I didn't have to worry about the expense of buying my own food. Therefore, I hardly touched my money after paying the safety deposit except to buy little things like crepes and gelato on most days. My biggest expense was a three-day trip to Rome, so I guess that doesn't really count. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Probably at most 30 euros if we had gone out to eat one night. Food and drink are cheap there. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Take advantage of menus of the day and special offers. Two days a week a restaurant called Cien Montaditos has tapas 0.50 Euros each. |
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? | Intermediate |
| 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? | Intermediate Spanish 2 |
| 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? | Talk with your program friends in Spanish because if you're there during the summer, you aren't going to have much interaction with actual Spanish students (unless you get an intercambio, which I highly recommend). I wish I had talked less English with my friends. |
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? | Travel shouldn't be scary or make you anxious when you're about to embark on an incredible adventure. Each destination is another opportunity to create memories and learn about new cultures. There are literally countless places to go, and you have to keep an open mind in order to enjoy their diversity because every one of them offers something special. |
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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
