Valencia stole my heart. Past Review
By Elizabeth O (Speech Communications, Colorado State University) for
WorldStrides Study Abroad in Valencia, Spain
Absolutely.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
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 |
The program was amazing. I had an incredible time. Strengths were the trips and Manuel, Raquel, Sara, and Barbara are phenomenal. I am so grateful for the friends I made but do wish they didn't speak English so that I would have been forced to use my Spanish even more. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Amparo Guerrero is perfect. I had an overall perfect housing experience. The people I lived with were amazing and I wouldn't have changed one single thing. |
| * Food: |
I am a vegetarian and Amparo was incredibly accomodating. I always had more than enough food to eat and it was all so delicious! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt the luckiest girl in the world every single day at one point or another. My friends and all the experiences we had both in Valencia and traveling are something I will always keep in my heart. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Valencia is incredibly safe. At first I of course felt a little nervous about my safety as a twenty year old blonde little girl in Spain but I never felt truly threatened ever while walking around in the day, at night, alone, or with friends. Obviously it is a big city and it is important to always be aware but I never had and didn't know anyone that had a bad experience. |
| 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
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
Host family, friends, ISA staff, teachers. I did need to use it everyday with my family and classes. A lot of people spoke a limited English but not to me, if I spoke in Spanish to them they almost always responded in Spanish. |
| 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?
Select all that apply |
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | You have to come to Valencia, no questions. Someone laid back who wants to experience a more authentic Spanish life would love it here. It is incredible. |
