Life Altering Experience in Bilbao! Past Review
By Rachel D (Speech Communication, Colorado State University) for
API (Academic Programs International): Bilbao - Universidad de Deusto
Yes! I gained confidence, independence, sense of self. I have caught a love for the culture over there and Bilbao now feels like a home to me. I want to return to europe to travel more and work...maybe teach English abroad!
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The professors who taught the classes were from the area, but also were professors from the U.S. as well so the teaching methods were similar although we talked about differences. I really thought it was well organized, especially having the language classes combine once or twice a week with the Spanish students learning English. The grading system was fair, and similar to American Universities, the work load I thought was the right amount for Summer school. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The support by my program director was excellent, she was always available if I had questions or a problem. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I absolutely LOVED my host family and still keep in touch with them, and plan to visit again soon! They treated me as if I were family and really cared about me! |
| * Food: |
I am lactose intolerant and gluten sensative...my host mom was amazing! The food she cooked was so healthy and she eats similar to me as well so it worked out perfect! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Anything that had to do with my host family, I went paddle boating on la ria with her and her son! I went kayaking with my friends host mom, I went to the pamplona festival and stayed all day, played soccer, went to the beach, went cave climbing....there's too much! |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Bilbao was a very homy and safe city! I felt safe walking by myself places! I got a lil cold but nothing serious, but my host mom and my program director were very helpful and medical attention was available if needed! |
| 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 |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
I thought the language courses were just okay, I didnt feel myself improving from if I were to take it at my home University. What did improve my language was living with a host family and really emerging myself in the culture and forcing myself to speak spanish. I used the host country's language everyday, not many people spoke english in Bilbao, which was good for me! |
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 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? | Don't hold back doing something because you are unsure...Just Go For It and do everything you want to do! Have no regrets and you will go back a changed person!! Anyone and everyone would benefit from this program, especially those who want to really learn Spanish! |
