The best thing that has ever happened to me! Past Review
By A student (Theatre Education & Acting, Spanish minor, Illinois State University) - abroad from 01/03/2012 to 05/25/2012 with
CEA CAPA Education Abroad: Granada, Spain
Everything. This experience has opened my eyes to a opportunities that I never knew existed. I now have so much better of a sense for what it feels like to embrace a completely new culture and lifestyle so beautiful and different from my own. Really, this experience has taught me how to love in more ways than I thought a person was capable of.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
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 |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Some of the doctors seemed to have taken advantage of the fact that we were study abroad students and didn't take the time to fully examen or explain things during visits. |
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| 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) |
The dollar to euro conversion was frustrating and unfortunate that we technically never got the full value for our dollar while abroad. |
| * 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? | 50 euro |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Really take advantage of the meals provided by your host families! And also prioritize certain things in your weekend travels. I.e. where you stay, what kind of food you eat, etc. |
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? | Fluent |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Spanish grammar (200 level) |
| 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? | Immerse yourself completely! Never let an experience go by. Spend as much time as you can on the streets, in the restaurants and cafés, participating in local holidays and festivals, etc. Really make an effort to get to know and assimilate with the natives in the city in which you're studying! |
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? | How much the dollar to euro conversion was really going to affect me |
