The best 4 months of my life Past Review
By Deanna R (Bentley University) - abroad from 08/31/2012 to 12/14/2012 with
API (Academic Programs International): Barcelona - Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona
I gained an understadn of sulture, language, and other ways of life. I also gained a deeper sense of self understanding. This expereince was extremly worthwhile andI wuold do it again in a heart beat
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
UAB did not have very good resources for the student body. The printers never worked at the school and there was no room avaliable for the abroad students to sit in between classes or to study. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The API crew was very helpful. Whetere it was helping you plan for your trips, scheduling events for you to learn about the culture, or helping you with medical issues, |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived in a home stay and I Was able to observe a great deal of culture. I really loved my host mom. |
| * Food: |
The food was very different and I felt like everything was cooked with oil. I wate anything that was put in front of my however jsut to absorb as muc hculture as possible. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I felt as if the helath care was better here than what I recieve at home. When I went to the doctors they immidetaley took me in a gave me 4 different percriptions; that never happened to me in the USA before. |
| * Safety: |
Be very careful of your purses! |
| 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) |
Living with a host mom made it very easy becasue she fed me and provided me with all of my basic necessities. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | less than 10 euro |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
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| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | highschool spanish |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Get a intercambio partner and use home stays! |
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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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | That catalan is prominet throughout Barcelona |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
