Past Review
By Christina V (Neurobiology and Neurosciences., Trinity University) for
CIEE: Seville - Summer Language and Culture
I am extremely happy that I chose to study abroad with CIEE in Sevilla. The program coordinators and all that work at CIEE there in Sevilla are wonderful. I had the best experience of my life and I would not change it for anything. It really made me reflect on my own way of life in the US and think about what I could do better as well as the things that I like better about the US. I have not changed any academic plans because of my trip, but I know that I have made it a goal to return to Sevilla in the future.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The professors were very fair with respect to grading. It was not overly challenging but just enough work to make it worth the summer term. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived in El Centro near the study center. It was very conveniently located and the home was very nice. I lived with a senora alone and she was amazing! <br /><br /> My neighborhood, although in the center/downtown area of Sevilla, I always felt quite safe, even walking around late at night. It was a very good location because everything I needed was near me. I lived alone with an older senora and she was incredible! I really loved my house. My host mother kept it clean and helped with my laundry. I was always treated as part of the family and I felt extremely at home. |
| * Food: |
If you want good food, go to Los coloniales, El Rinconcillo, Rayas, and La Fiorentina. They all have awesome food/dessert! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
We had so many weekend and day trips as well as cultural activities that were all incredible. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
The city was extremely safe. I did have a friend get attacked in a park for her bag but she was alone and sitting on a bench. While there were people around her at the time, a man tried to grab her bag from behind and when she fought back, he did too and he leg got scraped up from the incident but she was fine. |
| 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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | I tried to watch my spending and even with that, I spent about 650 euros. This money spent included two weekend trips that I planned on my own and payed for. Most of the other expenses were gifts, snacks, and drink while going out. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Many people did not budget enough for their pre-paid phones, so that is very important. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
This program was really as much as you made it. If you promised yourself to speak in Spanish with everyone and insisted on it, then it was easy to find Spanish everywhere. I feel that this could all be improved by simply making a language pledge so that people can get as much speaking out of the experience as possible. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | If you are going in the summer, bring lots of light weight clothes...it can get up to 115 degrees. Also, try not to worry too much about food becuase I heard that they all ate so much fish before I left and I only had it four or five times in six weeks. Also, do EVERY activity that you can with CIEE because they are all free, they always have Spaniard students to meet, and they were pretty fun. Lastly, you are in a foreign country where they speak a foreign language, so take advantage of this and practice Spanish as MUCH AS POSSIBLE. It is very easy to fall into the trap of hanging out with only english-speaking people all the time, but if you make the effort, you will find students who feel the same about speaking Spanish. |
