A Semester in Sevilla Past Review
By A student (Spanish Language and Literature., Providence College) - abroad from 01/14/2013 to 05/10/2013 with
CIEE: Seville - Liberal Arts
I gained an appreciation for other cultures and types of people. I learned to be a lot more independent. I feel like a more complete person having been abroad.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Classes were fairly easy but pretty interesting. There were plenty of resources for help had I needed them. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
All of the staff was kind, friendly and helpful. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The homestay is one of the most central parts of the study abroad experience. I am so glad I lived with a family. I had privacy and didn't have to worry about a single thing. Adapting to a family routine was a little bit difficult because I was so used to having independence. Families are really luck of the draw. I know some people who had incredible experiences and others who had horrible experiences. I would say my experience overall was average. There were things I didn't like about my family, but in the end it was worth it. I really feel like I have a second family halfway across the world. |
| * Food: |
My homestay food was mediocre at best. The menu was really repetitive and most of the time I didn't like what I was eating. I know my host mom is not a good cook and that the family didn't have much money so food was usually bad quality. As for restaurants, there were things I liked and didn't like. It seemed like all the restaurants served the same things, which made it a little boring but at least I knew I could get something I liked everywhere. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
My host family's biggest downfall was that they aren't super traditionally "sevillano." They really didn't like to be a part of the festivals and culture. A lot of my friends had incredible cultural experiences through their families. The program itself helped me feel a little more integrated through the local students and trips. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
The pharmacists in Spain are more like doctors. When I felt sick, I told the pharmacist my symptoms and he was able to get me the medication I needed. The program was helpful in recommending me an english-speaking doctor, though I didn't end up going. |
| * Safety: |
I didn't have a single issue with safety. I know people who did, but personally I would say Sevilla is a very safe city. It feels more like a small town. Don't take any handouts from gypsies, wear a cross-body purse, and always be alert. The only issues I really had were strange men trying to talk to me or asking me to help them with english, etc. Men in Europe tend to be a lot more aggressive, but they usually will take a hint and leave you alone if you ignore them. |
| 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) |
Things are much cheaper in Sevilla compared to the US and to many places in Spain and Europe. I bought a lot of clothes because they were cheap. Travel is cheaper, food is cheaper. I got dinner and drinks for 2 for something like 13 euro. I feel like I saved a lot of money by not going out every night and buying drinks or paying cover charges. That's definitely a big expense. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Probably about 50 euro. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Prioritize what you want to spend money on. Get an international ATM card (like Schwab) to avoid ATM fees which can really pile up. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
The program definitely encouraged us to speak spanish. In the school, the "language police" called out people who didn't speak spanish. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Fluent |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Spanish 322 |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Live in a homestay so you're forced to speak Spanish the majority of the time. Make spanish friends. Take classes in Spanish. |
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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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 wish I had been more outgoing and had made more of an effort to make friends and experience more things. I also wish I knew more about where to travel and how to do so. |
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 Academic or LinguistYou went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you! |
