Do Not Miss Out, I Repeat, Do Not Miss Out Past Review

By John K (Biology, General., University of the Pacific) for

USAC Spain: San Sebastián - Spanish Language, Basque, Psychology, and European Studies

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

I have learned a lot about myself, the negatives and the positives. I had no idea what I was doing when I first decided to go abroad but as the first month went by I realized that I signed myself up for one of the greatest experiences in my life.

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 feel that the grading system is very fair. The teaching methods are effective and superb. Also, as long as you are cooperative and judged to be a good student they will work with you and take in late assignments with legitimate excuse (traveling being one of them from time to time).
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program	This program was overall, amazing. I would recommend this to anyone, even my future children because I would want them to experience everything that I got to experience. Every single one of the staffs and teachers were just amazing and I have nothing bad to say about any of them.
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	Parte Vieja is the night life of San Sebastian. I know you do not have the power to choose where you want to live but if you end up living here you'll be able to have all the fun you would like and still be able to walk home in 5 minutes. Everyone in your program will have to walk to get to where you live because you are literally living in the middle of the night life.
* Food:	I honestly was not very impressed with the foods in San Sebastian. They are expensive and very tasteless for my taste. San Sebastian is very well known for their gastronomy and therefore for their foods.
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	San Sebastian has many festivals that are celebrated citywide. Also I recommend that you go to every one of the excursions that this school offers you. I guarantee that you'll love them all.
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?
* Safety:	I felt like I was in the most safest city in the world. I had no trouble with anybody. I have not heard anybody getting robbed or pickpocked. Although in many other major cities, people come back with no wallets, IDs, and purses.
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program?	Yes

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)
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	Learn to cook.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component?	Yes
How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program?	None
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure?	None
If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition?
Language acquisition improvement?	You should definitely get an intercombio. They are somewhat good at english so you two can communicate. They will not only show you around the city but they will help you with your foreign language.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Apartment
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Americans Local Students
* Who did you take classes with? Select all that apply	Americans

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?	The staffs and teachers
* What could be improved?	nothing more
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	Just know that the more money you have, the more places you can go. Start saving.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	Spanish Track I
Course Department:
Instructor:	Marina
Instruction Language:	Spanish
Comments:	This teacher means business: She is on time, she knows what she is doing, and she is just an amazing teacher. She definitely makes you participate more than you would have back at home but this is very effective in learning a new language.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	BASQUE CUISINE
Course Department:	NUT 400
Instructor:	Louis
Instruction Language:	Spanish
Comments:	Honestly was not very content with this class. The foods that they serve after the class are amazing and very traditional. But when you first hear about this class, you would expect there to be a lot of cooking but this was not the case. For me, like those who came abroad without any knowledge on Spanish, it was very tiring and boring to stand around the kitchen while the chef cook the dishes that we will ultimately eat afterwards and have him talk in Spanish for 2 hours.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	INTERNSHIP
Course Department:	FLL 400
Instructor:	Eva Martinez
Instruction Language:	Spanish and English
Comments:	Very rewarding. Not only did I earn a credit for doing this but I also got paid. This internship was teaching. I was a teacher's assistant who taught English to elementary students.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	SURFING
Course Department:	PEX 199
Instructor:	Rodrigo
Instruction Language:	Spanish
Comments:	Usually there will be about 3-4 instructors every time you head out to the beach, every single one of them are funny, energetic, and very helpful. A lot of people take this class without having surfed at all. But now I have learned a lot and am able call myself a surfer!
Credit Transfer Issues: