¡Te amo Cadiz! Past Review

By (Amherst College) - abroad from 08/26/2017 to 12/16/2017 with

API (Academic Programs International): Cadiz - Universidad de Cadiz

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
-Spanish skills -Comfort navigating a foreign culture -Unforgettable travel experiences -Social connections w/ Spaniards and other non-Americans -A break/step back from the US and my university -And much more!!!

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Direct enrollment was hard because the Spanish education system (how classes are set up, what grades mean, etc) is so different, but my "educational" experience obviously wasn't just limited to the classroom. I feel like I actually ended up learning more outside of my classes (with my host family, from conversations with non-American students, through traveling, etc).

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Vicky MAKES this program what it is. I would've felt so much more confused and less at-home without her. I always knew I could go to her with any question or concern and she'd do EVERYTHING to help me, no matter how big or small of an issue it was.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Living with a host family is a crucial part of the program! Vicky paired me carefully with my host family and we got along incredibly well. They did a really good job including me in everything AND still allowing me to feel like I could do my own thing.

* Food:

Both my host parents were great cooks, and occasionally even took us out for delicious meals!

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Social integration is what you make of it. The more effort you put in to get to know people, reach out to make friends and keep in touch with them, etc, the more you'll feel integrated into the community. I would also recommend looking for clubs/activities to participate in regularly: I joined a local swim team and met lots of gaditanos through it!

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Experienced very few health issues

* Safety:

Cadiz is very, very safe. You can walk home alone at any hour of the night without encountering any trouble. Just use common sense!

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

If you're looking to improve your Spanish, relax in a laidback and very friendly town, learn about Spain and its culture, get to know Spaniards and other international students alike, participate in a small program w/ individualized attention, eat well, live with a Spanish family, etc, do the API Cadiz program!

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)

Cadiz is cheap and we loved it! It is very easy to explore the city, go out with friends, etc without spending very much money. The only thing that was a bit trickier was travel: because Cadiz doesn't have its own airport (generally you need to fly out of Jerez or Sevilla), travel takes a bit longer, and you sometimes end up spending more money than you would going from a big city.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

We always spoke Spanish with Vicky and our host families.

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Intermediate
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Advanced
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? 200-level
How many hours per day did you use the language?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
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?
  • The city of Cadiz
  • The direct-enrollment component
  • The support from Vicky and other API staff
* What could be improved?
  • More warning about the fact that we finish our semester earlier than all other students - this was a stressor I was not anticipating
  • More organization surrounding excursions (i.e. having dates on the calendar right from the start)
  • More interaction with other students - since the program is small, it would be cool to set up social activities with other student groups
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? The schoolwork is actually hard! Be prepared to work a lot, especially at the end of the semester. I was expecting things to be easier for me academically this semester.

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 Blazer
Craving 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.'