How to fall in love with a city in 4 short months Past Review
By Jessie (Whitman College) - abroad from 09/03/2017 to 12/20/2017 with
IES Abroad: Granada - Liberal Arts & Language
Language skills, architecture and history knowledge, social and political contexts of Spain, the Mediterannean and the EU, but mostly about myself and hopes to continue to work towards a career in sustainable public health
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. |
Classes are diverse and interesting but not overwhelmingly stressful, giving you time to get to know and be a part of the city. Really get to improve your Spanish. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I am still close with our Program Director, staff, and orientadores, and hope to always be! Supportive, engaging, care about giving you unique immersive opportunities, and go with you to the doctor if you need to! |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Very grateful for warm and wacky host parents |
| * Food: |
Breakfast and comida, the biggest meal of the day and eaten together as a family, included in program and not dinner, but no fear- free tapas are special to Granada and are wonderful and social! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Took a class at the University of Granada, met best Spanish and international friends there which helped a lot. Soccer with host fam. There are always events going on in the city and with so many Erasmus and Spanish students it's really easy to meet people |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Doctor's offices and pharmacies are very efficient and IES will literally hold your hand through any of it if you want |
| * Safety: |
Small city, but still a city and important to be aware and not let your guard down |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I wish I could do it again! |
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) |
Granada is a cheap city! Thank you to tapas culture! More expensive and complicated than other big cities to try to plan travel, but still doable and affordable |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | less than 100euro |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | budget for a trip or two to the doctor's! |
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 |
Wish that there was a language pledge in the study center building so that we would speak more when not in classes with other program people |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Advanced |
| 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? | IES professors and staff are great language resources! Go for tapas and just talk and practice. Go to intercambios linguisticos around town (at bars, hostels, cafes, etc.)- other international students, locals, and travelers who want to practice too! |
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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| 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? | that dinners weren't included! but that was so okay because of tapas culture and its social nature, but it was still a surprise |
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.' |
