Unforgettable Experiences in Barcelona October 10, 2022
By Anna C (Psychology, Wofford College) - abroad from 01/03/2022 to 01/23/2022 with
CIEE: January in Barcelona
I gained independence and confidence in my abilities. The first couple of days in Spain were a big adjustment for me due to the changes in lifestyle and cultural differences. In addition, I had a hard time adjusting to the transportation methods, rather than driving myself everywhere. After learning how to use the transportation, I felt accomplished. I also gained a sense of living in a different culture, especially by staying with a host family. For example, in the U.S. I usually eat dinner around 6:00 and in Spain I became used to eating at 9:30 with my host mother. These differences allowed me to experience change which is an important life skill.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The academics were challenging but involved a lot of group work which was a good way to interact with other people in the class. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I was pleased with the amount of freedom I got to explore, as well as a good understanding of what was expected of me in the classroom and at my host mother's house. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I had a host mother who was great, but it was hard to do many activities with her because I was abroad during the pandemic. |
| * Food: |
I loved the food in Spain, and I was always able to find something that I wanted to eat at any restaurant. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt like I got a good understanding of the culture in Spain, but since I was only there for a month I do not feel like I was able to understand all aspects of their lives. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
It was super easy to find a place to get my vaccination when leaving Spain. I did not have major health problems while on this trip, but I knew where to reach out if I ran into anything. |
| * Safety: |
I always felt save while I was abroad and I was always surrounded by a group of people. I had all the contact information of program leaders in case I did not feel comfortable. There were times were I was anxious about the transportation, but I got used to it after being there for 2 days. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I would choose the same program because Spain is somewhere I had always wanted to go and the sites were beyond amazing. I was able to explore the city and learn how to use a different mode of transportation. I loved seeing the famous Sagrada Familia and hearing all of the history behind it. I also enjoyed my International Marketing class because it allowed me to compare marketing in the U.S. to the marketing in Spain and understand the differences. I also loved living in a host family because it allowed me to experience cultural differences and learn about a different way of living. |
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) |
Money was not an extreme stress factor while abroad because my food was provided by my host mother and I came with some additional money and a credit card for other meals and personal expenses. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | I spent about $100-$150/week on food, shopping, and transportation |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | I tried to save money in the beginning of my trip so I did not feel overwhelmed by the end. I was able to do this by making sure to eat dinner at my host mom's house as well as be cautious about what I wanted to buy while shopping. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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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? | I now know that I am a lot more capable of finding my way around and picking up on contextual cues. I am more independent than I had originally thought, which would have caused less anxiousness going into the trip. |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The NetworkerAn active student leader, it was important for you to network abroad as well. Once overseas, you sought out student clubs, volunteered with local organizations, or attended community events. You encouraged your friends join you, and often considered how you could reflect your international experiences in a resume. |
