A mix of sweet and bitter August 17, 2026
By Dominic Q (Brandeis University) - abroad from 05/23/2026 to 06/30/2026 with
IES Abroad: Granada - Liberal Arts & Language
I learned the difference between people even when they are from the same country.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The courses in the program were interesting and provided a lot of unique experiences for me. The professors at the two courses I enrolled were supportive and passionate about their teachings. Although the curriculum timeline was very tight near the end of the program, it was still a great experience to learn things I normally would not encounter at my own university. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
|
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The housing was neat and had good privacy for the students, however it wasn't suitable enough to deal with the summer climate at Granada. |
| * Food: |
|
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The local students were very friendly and willing to communicate even there was a language barrier. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
|
| * Safety: |
|
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
Majority of the people I met from the program were nice caring, they provided a lot of support for me when I ran into certain issues during the program. |
Finances
|
* 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) |
|
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 150 |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
|
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
|
| 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 |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Latin 30 |
| 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? | It would be very helpful to know some before going. |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
| 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? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | The summer in Spain is brutal |
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! |
