My Life as a Foreigner Past Review
By Rebecca R (Spanish Secondary Education, Illinois State University) for
CEA CAPA Education Abroad: Granada, Spain
I learned a new language and more of what the world has to offer along with other cultures.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
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 |
They were very helpful and funny. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
We had to buy our own towels and toiletries besides hand soap and toilet paper. My host family let us do what we wanted and never questioned the time we were coming home or where we were going. |
| * Food: |
The food there doesn't really have flavor, but some of my favorites were Paella, Migas, Albondigas, and Schwarma. Do not eat anything called Morcilla. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
It was all great! |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I never felt threatened or unsafe when I was living in Granada. |
| 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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | About 50 euros. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Bring about 4 grand and watch the currency exchange, that's where you lose the most money. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 200 level |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
With my host family and other people I met in the city. There were some people who knew English but I always spoke Spanish when I was interacting with people. |
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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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Make most of every moment you're there because you really don't know how fast/ how much you're going to miss it once you come back to The States. |
