Granada es maravillosa Past Review
By A student (Sociology., Brandeis University) - abroad from 09/02/2013 to 12/19/2013 with
IES Abroad: Granada - Study Abroad with IES Abroad
It was definitely worthwhile. I had a great time here living in Spain and learning about the culture, the food and the language. I learned so much from life experience and concrete knowledge and it was definitely a growing experience to live outside of your comfort zone.
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 program does a really good job of immersing you in Spanish while you are in class. There are more classes than I had expected to be taking and there are a lot of finals and long term papers. The classes themselves were very interesting with some really great professors. There are also a lot of group projects that can be very stressful and time consuming. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The staff and faculty are really nice. They are always available to help and respond to emails. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I really enjoyed staying in a home stay. My Spanish family was really nice and I had my own room and wing of the house with another student from IES. I wish that we had dinner with our families so that we could be a little closer. |
| * Food: |
I loved the food my host mom made. Im vegetarian and she made it really easy but for dinner I often times didn't have anywhere to put food I bought and some nights I was very hungry. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I don't feel very integrated in the culture. My intercambio (language exchange partner) only met with me once and I didn't manage to make too many spanish friends unfortunately. I liked that our professors and staff were spanish. Even though we did a lot of spanish cultural activities I always felt not very much a part of the culture. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I was sick a couple times and they recommend that you find on your own the doctors and send a letter to the insurance to give you a refund. It just takes a little more effort than usual in America. |
| * Safety: |
The city is mostly safe. There was one girl on the program who was robbed with a knife. Try not to walk by yourself very late at night. |
| 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) |
Even though Granada is not very expensive to get food You get free tapas with every drink that usually cost 2 euros its hard to get full from 1 tapa and a drink and often times you're hungry at dinner or you have to spend money since the program doesn't provide dinner. Also you don't tip your waiters which saves money too. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 60 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | bread at bakeries is often really cheap and you can get that for dinner. Beware of going out to rester aunts. Try to find free or cheap cultural activities to go to. |
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 |
You have to use spanish during almost all of your classes (unless you are in the lower levels) so during the program itself you use spanish but there is no pledge to speak only in spanish or anything. So when we talk amongst friends its usually in English and there are not very many opportunities to meet spanish students. |
| 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? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 4th semester Spanish 104 |
| 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? | Try to make spanish friends and meet with your intercambio. Get involved with activities and do your best to speak spanish with your american friends even though its hard. |
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 there is no Jewish community in Granada and that it would be so difficult to find a way to celebrate the high holy days. |
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.' |
