Barcelona: The REAL city that never sleeps Past Review
By Kaylin M (Political Science and Government., Barnard College) for
IES Abroad: Barcelona - Study Abroad with IES Abroad
What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was beyond worthwhile. I love Barnard I love Columbia I love New York City but a semester away in a new country with new friends a different language and new experiences everyday was incredibly refreshing and important for my college experience. The perspective gained from living abroad is unique and cannot be taught or given, it needs to be experienced first-hand and really is a life changing opportunity.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | Universitat de Barcelona, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona |
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
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 |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
great restaurants on passeig de gracia and the gothic area of the city. dorm food wasnt very good as is to be expected but got to go out a fair amount |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
fun field trips and events arranged like trip to FC barcelona soccer game |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
very safe in terms of violent crime - but watch your pockets for pickpocketers |
| 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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | in the beginning of the semester i got a 3month unlimited student metro card for 115 euro that was totally worth it and tried to take public transportation as much as possible besides when coming home late at night when my roommates and i split cabs. i had a meal plan at my dorm for breakfast and dinner so just bought lunch around the IES center each day (5-8 euro). other than that it was just on souvenirs, drinks out at night and traveling. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | i had really bad fees for credit/debit card charges so took large amounts of cash out and kept in a safe in my room. stay at hostels and use the airlines like wizz air, ryan air, edreams for travel. i didn't pack warm enough clothes for weekend trips (i was fine for barcelona but not snow in vienna and paris) so had to buy winter stuff that i could have just brought. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 3000 level |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
people in the city, classes, spanish students in my dorm |
| 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? | Please don't sit in your room all semester and skype friends and family from home like a few peers I knew. They're still going to be there when you go home, send long mass emails or blog and have everyone follow you, you will not make the most of it if you're heart and mind are still in America. |
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