Barcelona is Amazing! Past Review
By Ashley H (Math, Wellesley College) for
CIEE: Barcelona - Liberal Arts
The experience was definitely worthwhile. It sparked an interest in traveling and learning about other cultures, introduced me to some amazing people, and helped me improve my language skills. I'm hoping to live abroad again sometime soon!
Personal Information
| 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. |
The experience was different - we had a huge test at the end of the semester instead of tests and homework due throughout the semester. It was tempting to slack off during the semester and study at the end, but that was very stressful, so I didn't do that during my second semester. If you're having trouble in class, it's definitely important to talk with the professor throughout the semester, otherwise he/she might not be understanding when you go for help at the end. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The study abroad office was very useful and easy to access. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I loved living in a dorm - it was easy to meet local students in the dorm, and there were also a lot of Americans with me, so I could always find someone to do something. It wasn't the best for learning the language though. |
| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
CIEE organized several trips, which was very fun. It was also easy to meet other CIEE students who wanted to travel independently with me. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
NA |
| 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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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | NA |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
I also had an intercambio with a Spanish student, which was useful. A lot of people would like to practice English with me, which was frustrating since I was trying to learn Spanish. |
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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