"San Sebastian: The Best Trip I have Ever Taken!" Past Review
By Megan H (Marketing, Northern Illinois University) for
USAC Spain: San Sebastián - Spanish Language, Basque, Psychology, and European Studies
If I could rate my program 10 stars, I would. I just loved San Sebastian, the Basque culture, the area, the language, the trips, the courses, the fun and the people! My trip tripled my desire to continue to travel. I want to see the rest of the world now! I now have a much greater understanding of how many wonderful places there are all over the world that I would never have known existed if I had sought them out.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
My classes in Spain were great! I studied International Business and took two courses which were taught at the University of Deusto in San Sebastian. My classes were in English, which was nice. It was great to get a different perspective on business and international relations. It really opened my eyes being able to see how other countries and cultures look at business situations. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
My program was great! I loved every part. We took weekend excursions and I saw a lot of places that I never would have seen. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I loved staying with a host family, it really added to my overall experience in a very positive way! Another American student who was in my program also lived there, we were roommates. That was great. I made a great friend. Living with a host family let me really learn more about the culture of the area. My host mother cooked and talked with us. She allowed us to ask questions and taught us about how things are done in San Sebastian. |
| * Food: |
I'm somewhat of a picky eater and was worried that I would not find anything to eat. I didn't have too much of a problem. I loved all the local bakeries and the ice cream there is the best I have ever had! Future students have to go to a tapas restaurant! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Too many to list! I loved going to Toledo, what a beautiful city! I also loved visiting all the museums. We saw El Prado in Madrid and the Guggenheim in Bilbao--both were great. We also took a trip to Biaritz in France, another beautiful city. We visited Pamploma and saw the famous Running of the Bulls location. We visited a small local bodega, a vineyard. That was fun too! It was all amazing! |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I never had a problem with safety. As long as you are smart about what you are doing, you shouldn't have any problems. Stay with the group and don't be alone after dark. Be aware of your surroundings at all times. Pay attention to time. I did not have to get any vaccines for my trip and had no health incidents while there. |
| 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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Language
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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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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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Words of wisdom for anyone considering studying in San Sebastian: DO IT! Don't miss this chance to experience a fantastic city. I love the city and I cannot wait to go back someday! I would say a business student would benefit most from the trip, because that was what my courses focused on. But there were non-business students in my program who also loved the entire trip. If you love beaches, museums and chocolate pastries, this is the program for you! |
