The most amazing city Past Review

By (Business and Sociology, Brandeis University) - abroad from 01/03/2012 to 04/17/2012 with

CIEE: Barcelona - Business & Culture

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned how to live not only on my own, but in a different country with a very different culture. It was most definitely worthwhile.

Personal Information

If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: CIEE, ESCI
How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I had to go to the hospital while I was in Barcelona because I got sick. My program was very, very helpful and caring about the whole process. They checked up on me to make sure I was ok and that everything worked out and they were helpful in helping me contact the insurance company in order to get reimbursed for the hospital bill. But, the insurance that CIEE makes you purchase was terrible. They made it so difficult for me to get reimbursed and told me I needed to contact the hospital once I was already home in America, which was obviously really difficult and pretty much impossible. I still have not been reimbursed.

* Safety:

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

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)

* Was housing included in your program cost? Yes
* Was food included in your program cost? No

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

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? Intermediate
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? 3
How many hours per day did you use the language?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • housing
  • the city
  • faculty in my program
* What could be improved?
  • having to take ESCI classes
  • should not have to buy programs insurance because they do not help much
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? how expensive Europe is