Granada: a Fulfilling Experience Past Review
By Rachel C (Physics and Astronomy, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire) for
CEA CAPA Education Abroad: Granada, Spain
I learned how to be self-sufficient, figuring out travel plans and flying alone, and public transportation. My language skills also improved immensely.
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | Universidad de Granada |
| 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. |
Accomplishing 6 credits in 4-5 weeks was rather intense academically. The classes and professors were fun and entertaining. The finals didn't really reflect the relaxed atmosphere of the class itself and were difficult to prepare for. However, the professors emphasized the importance of the experience to simple academic exposure abroad which I completely agree with. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
When I consider how much our group did along with academics in such a short time, it was so well organized. The administrators helped me to move up a level in language in less than a day, organizing it with my professors. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
We would go out and return late at night, and I never encountered a dangerous situation. The locals were nice and helpful as well. The walk was a bit long to school but it allowed me to see the city and enjoy it every day. My host mother was so supportive and friendly. She would advise us with our travels and made amazing food. She kept us so well fed! |
| * Food: |
My roommate was a vegetarian and she would make dishes so that I could have meat and she could have a vegetarian version of it. The food was so amazing! We almost never went out because we enjoyed it so much. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
We went to the feria as a group, to discotecas, the park, nature walks, toured the albaycin. The program directors had at least two events every week. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I never encountered a dangerous situation. As long as you are somewhat cautious, Granada is generally a very safe city. |
| 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 used Spanish with my host mother and her family, with my roommate and American friends abroad, in school, and daily: shopping, eating out. |
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? | Granada is the perfect size city to study abroad. You can walk almost anywhere and it's ideal for travelling to other locations in Spain, Portugal, or Morocco. |
