Hola Barcelona! Past Review
By Aaron Romero (University of the Pacific) - abroad from 08/31/2017 to 12/16/2017 with
IES Abroad: Barcelona - Study Abroad with IES Abroad
I learned that I have the ability to adjust to living in another culture.
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. |
Overall great program! |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
IES Barcelona staff was great and very helpful with getting us adjusted to the city. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Dorm was clean and students local students were nice. Staff was rude. |
| * Food: |
Food at dorm was good for the most part, restaurants in Barcelona were great! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
There was a divide between Spanish/Catalan culture. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I did not use the doctor or hospital at any time but pharmacies were abundant in the city. |
| * Safety: |
Other than the occasional pick-pocket, city was safe. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
I would choose a program that puts American students in local universities. |
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) |
Travel was cheap, however, restaurants in the city were very expensive. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $100/week |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | If your living situation provides food, try and eat there as much as possible and eat out only when away from your dorm/apartment. |
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 |
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| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Beginner |
| 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? | Meet more locals! |
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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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? | 0 |
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 would have practiced my Spanish much sooner than I did so I could have communicated better with locals. Also, I wish I would have learned some Catalan before the program began. |
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 Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
