A detailed review of CISabroad Past Review
By Debora C (Business, University of the Ozarks) - abroad from 05/11/2015 to 06/19/2015 with
CISabroad (Center for International Studies): Intern in Barcelona
Definitely worthwhile. I discovered my passion for traveling and new places, I grew as a person, I expanded my professional and cultural knowledge, and I had fun during the whole experience.
Review Photos
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. |
I didn't really study abroad because my program was solely an internship. However, the internship in itself was a learning experience and I gained exposure to: client-business relationships, account management, creative design, advertising techniques, campaign development, etc. In addition, I had about 4 Catalan classes that taught me most of the basic principles. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The CISabroad onsite staff was amazing! A combination of local Spanish citizens and foreign staff. I had some flight delays/cancellations, which affected my schedule, but the CISabroad onsite staff worked around that, which I appreciated so much. Also, they had a lot of activities planned out for the students and ran them very smoothly. It was good to know we had their support and that we could reach them so easily. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I got to my homestay, which I absolutely recommend, and had a nice lady waiting for me. I stayed in a really nice neighborhood in Barcelona really close to my internship placement. I had my own set of keys to the apartment, 2 yummy homemade meals a day, and an amazing host family (for real, you guys, EXCELLENT!) |
| * Food: |
Barcelona has some of the best food in the world! Plus, it's more affordable than other European cities and a whole lot of flavor.Taste the local! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
CISabroad holds many meetings that help students understand the local culture. They go from classroom orientations to neighborhood tours and sharing a meal afterwards, and even cooking lessons! The amount of activities CISabroad has for students and interns lets you get to know other foreign people, but the onsite -local- staff are so kind that they become your friends, too. In order to get to know more locals, you must really participate in the process. My co-workers, host family, church or other encounters, and other students were gateways to doing this. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
They explained everything to us, and I knew where to go or call in case of an emergency, but I didn't make use of this services. |
| * Safety: |
Of course, you need to take some precautions, like avoiding walking through certain areas at night. Although, I would come home at about 2 a.m. by myself and I never felt unsafe in Barcelona. Barcelona is a great city. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
It is an investment, but they're truly the best! |
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) |
It was easier than I expected! I chose to stay in a homestay, so two of my meals were already taken care of. I usually eat very little for breakfast (not good, I know), so I asked my host mom if my two meals could be lunch and dinner and she was happy with that. However, most days, I would eat outside and I still managed to stay within my budget. Barcelona is not such an expensive city. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | about $100, including dining outside and metro pass |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Try to save as much as you can before you get there, so don't have to be counting every single cent you spend once you get there. If you're worried about your finances all the time, you won't truly enjoy the experience! Save enough and be wise; other than that, have fun and enjoy! |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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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| 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? | To make your best effort to get out of your comfort zone and try to meet as many new people as you can! |
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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
