Espana: No pasa nada. Past Review

By (HISTORY., Wellesley College) for

CIEE: Madrid - Liberal Arts

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Yes it was worthwhile in that it greatly improved my language skills and i was able to go to a part of a world, i wouldnt normally have.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

They weren't always accessible and there was one time where they were supposed to have office hours, i went and they weren't there. When i called they had apparently decided to have office hours in their office not on campus. It would have been nice to get notifications if people were in the office. They also weren't very helpful in picking classes, especially since none of us know about any of the classes or professors. The program size was a good size, not too small, not too big. My expectations for the quality of the program were not met. I thought they would do a better job of helping their students and organizing activities that all students could attend.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

My neighborhood was relatively safe as long as i kept to well lit areas during nighttime. It was close to the train station that took me to school and it was close to the nightlife, though the streets i used werent the most safe to go down. I didnt really have to buy any items like sheets or cookware. I was treated as a family member, but i personally wanted to be more independent than i thought i was allowed by the host.

* Food:

Advice to dine at Doner Kebabs, even though they arent that healthy. they are amazingg and cheap.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I never really got to go on any of the field trips since they were always on days i had class. One of the most memorable cultural events was Noche en Blanco which is this huge overnight party. it was amazing since there were activities everywhere. All the museums in Madrid are amazing and i would highly recommend go seeing them. Dont miss out on the small ones either, Museo Sorolla is amazing as well. Retiro is amazing as well. I'm sure its even more amazing during the spring and in the middle there is the estanque which is awesome and you can go on boats in there.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

Madrid has alot of pickpockets and thieves. So just be smart. dont keep your wallet in your back pocket. Just be street smart. A few people in my program had their cellphones stolen. I once got a cold and brought medicine easily at the pharmacy.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

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)

Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? When you take money out of the bank, take out big amounts especially because you never know when the euro will go up. I usually took out 300 euros which would last me a month or so.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Advanced
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Spanish 242
If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition?

Language acquisition improvement?

I could practice with anyone. i practiced with my host, my friends i made at university, among the people in the program. Yes i did need to use Spanish mostly in everyday interactions. Most people did not speak english. Some professors did and a few students as well.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

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  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

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  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

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