Granada the Seductress Past Review

By Alex M (History and Literature, Harvard University) for

Arcadia: Granada - Arcadia in Granada

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

It was deifinitely worthwhile. I gained perspective, improved my Spanish, and made lasting friendships. I saw amazing things that frame the world in a new context. I now approach Spanish literature with a new and more profound awareness of the dynamics at play. I have begun to distinguish human nature from cultural tendencies, and this has enriched my writing. I have also begun to think of remote possibilities as potential realities.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program?	6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.	The workload allowed for ample free time. The style of teaching took some getting used to, since the professor taught his or her own opinion and rarely took into consideration the opinions of students. This was sometimes refreshing and sometimes frustrating. Just one of my professors encouraged critical thought; the rest presented a lot of material and expected us to know it for the exam. Overall, I gained quite a bit of knowledge, but the how much I actually thought and learned was up to me, so I learned as much outside of class as in it.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program	The trips were well organized, there were good office hours, and the office always felt like a welcome place. My expectations were more than met.
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	It was a little far away from class and from the center of town, but it was worth it because the family was so wonderful and there was so much space.
* Food:	Just be aware that Spain's schedule of eating is very different.
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	The trips to Madrid, Toledo, Segovia, and the Alpujarras were excellent. The tapas nights were great, too.
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?
* Safety:	Granada was very safe.
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)
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	Including souvenirs, personal travel, dance classes, and other expenses, I spent an average of about $100 per week.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	It is good to take out a lot of money from the ATM each time, but not to keep very much of it in your wallet at once. And it's good to pay for almost everything in cash.

Language

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program?	None

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Hotel Dorm Apartment Host Family
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Host Family International Students Americans
* Who did you take classes with? Select all that apply	Americans

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?	The organized overnight trips The lovely coordinators, Cristina and Triana
* What could be improved?	There could be a more strict no-English rule They could be less accommodating to those who complain, when those accommodations inconvenience almost everyone else
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	A student with an open mind, an independent ambition and set of goals, and a willingness to try new things and take risks, would most benefit from this program. Go to Granada with Arcadia if you want a well-structured program and an automatic community of other Americans, and if you are entranced by the interplay of Islamic, Christian, and Jewish cultures, among others. You can make of it what you want; to get the most out of your experience, you have to be proactive and look for ways to insert yourself into the daily life of Granadinos, not just the other students in the program and at the Centro de Lenguas Modernas where classes are.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	Literatura española siglo XX
Course Department:
Instructor:	José Javier León
Instruction Language:	Spanish
Comments:	This was an excellent class. The professor was vivacious and hilarious and he made us think. He asked the class more questions than the other professors. He had an extremely broad and deep background of knowledge and experience. He made literature relevant and connected what we read to many interesting concepts, and often to aspects of Spain and Granada that we experienced outside of class.
Credit Transfer Issues:	Not yet!

Course Name/Rating:	Literatura española, siglo XX
Course Department:	CEH
Instructor:	José Javier León
Instruction Language:	Spanish
Comments:	José Javier is an amazing professor who was highly amusing and got us all to think. He made literature very relevant and connected many themes, displaying an impressive background and experience. This class was fun and intellectually stimulating.
Credit Transfer Issues:	Not yet!