Once in a life time abroad in Spain Past Review
By A student (Biology/Spanish, University of Wisconsin - LaCrosse) - abroad from 01/23/2012 to 06/26/2012 with
API (Academic Programs International): Granada - Universidad de Granada
I gained life-long friends, memories, and lessons. I advanced my Spanish language and learned about life outside of the U.S.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
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 |
All of the on-site administration staff were kind, friendly, and very helpful with social, local, and academic aspects while I was abroad. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
One of the best parts of studying abroad was the new variety of food! I loved trying new things, even if I didn't think they tasted good, which was rare. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I liked all of the local cultural activities I participated in, but wish more were covered in our program. Through API we went to a few cities within Spain and a flamenco show. Some other things I wish were included are wine tasting, a bull fight, or olive oil tasting. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I didn't have any health issues abroad. |
| * Safety: |
There were reports of a man stealing from young female students. I would suggest keeping all important things locked up or on your body instead of a purse. Also, don't let any strangers know where you are staying! |
| 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) |
Not including the traveling I did on the side, it was easy to live on a student's budget because my housing and food were included with my program cost. |
| * Was housing included in your program cost? | Yes |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | Yes |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $200 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | I would suggest spending money on what you want to get out of studying abroad. While I was walking pass stores seeing cute clothes I just thought of how many places I wanted to travel which encouraged me not to blow money on clothes and other small things. |
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? | 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? | SPA 304 |
| 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? | Speak with your host family if you have one and talk with the locals. Don't take the easy way out by speaking english, even when you're with other American students. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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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? | I wish I knew that I had to test into my classes and have a back up plan of what classes would transfer back as a class I needed to graduate. |
