Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

The Time I Got to Travel the World with My New Best Friends Past Review

By (Washington State University) - abroad from 01/16/2017 to 04/27/2017 with

CEA CAPA Education Abroad: Barcelona, Spain

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Cultural integration. Adaptability. Problem Solving. Experience traveling. Dealing with different personalities and customs. Very worth while. You learn more than you realize.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Learned something in every class. Majority of my learned reflected on my home country's culture or incorporated it in some way.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

CEA in Barcelona is AMAZING.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Best housing out of all my friends I knew from other programs, also the best roommates.

* Food:

I LOVE SPANISH FOOD!

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Although you do not need be fluent in Spanish to live in Barcelona, it is helpful to have the basics down to successfully get around. By living in the city you are very integrated with the cultures daily life.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Never had to use it, but heard great things about CEA.

* Safety:

Never felt unsafe. CEA was able to assist anyone that did.

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

LOVE CEA.

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)

Helped to make a spreadsheet of my budget and break it down. It was necessary to rearrange my budget once I got to Barcelona and saw where my money was actually going.

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

If you wanted to speak Spanish you could, but not required.

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? Beginner

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • 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?
  • Structure
  • Accomidations
  • Faculty
* What could be improved?
  • N/A
  • N/A
  • N/A
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Advice from previous students on the best trips to go on with the program.

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 Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.