Salamanca, My Second Home. Past Review
By Whitney G (International Business/Spanish, Westminster College, MO) for
ISA Study Abroad in Salamanca, Spain
Salamanca will forever be one of the biggest parts of who I am. The worst part about Salamanca is having to come home at the end of the program! Studying in Salamanca was the best choice I've ever made. I have lots of international friends and American friends from this experience. I have gone to visit American friends in USA whom I met abroad with ISA, and even to Italy to visit friends I met in Salamanca. This program and process changed my life, my outlook on it and my every day character. I am more assertive when it comes to safety, I watch my hot water and electricity usage, and realized that life is short---so I should walk and enjoy it.
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | Universidad de Salamanca |
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The courses were pretty relaxed, which was nice. The course difficulty level wasn't very demanding...which was good, as study abroad isn't just about the book work, but about the whole foreign experience. I learned more OUTSIDE the classroom in Salamanca than I did IN the classroom. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
ISA Salamanca staff is AMAZING. They were always there to help, send emails about trips, notify us of things coming up. The office was big, lots of free computers, lots of flyers and discounts available for things around town. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I had such a wonderful family in Salamanca. I lived just off the Plaza Mayor so I was super close to everything important...5 minutes from school and -1 minute from nightlife! Great food, laundry was done for me weekly, no cleaning! It was such a nice hospitable stay. I still stay in touch with my family via facebook. |
| * Food: |
I had a wonderful host mom who cooked every meal for us. She would even send us lunches to go for school or trips when necessary. I didn't eat out that much as meals were provided with ISA...but when I did, I enjoyed that too. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I feel Salamanca is the best town for young college aged students. I studied there two different times during college because I fell in love with the place. Its golden streets and towering cathedrals give it a 'home-like' feeling - you don't realize its population of 200,000. Salamanca changed my life...Spain didn't. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
ISA staff would accompany students to the doctor if necessary. I was never stick during my time abroad so I can only speak of others' experiences. No one ever said ISA did a poor job at health related issues. I felt very safe in Salamanca. While it is unsafe to walk alone at night, I did all the time. (oops!) I was assertive and aware of my surroundings and felt very comfortable all the time. |
| 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) |
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Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
ISA homestay is the best choice to improve your speaking skills. Intercambios (Spanish/English conversations) were not set up for us with this program, which made it difficult to practice Spanish outside the classroom/homestay...you really had to put yourself out there to meet people. (Which I did, and I still keep in touch with my Spanish friends today.) |
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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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Go! Salamanca isn't Madrid, Granada, Barcelona, or Sevilla - Thank goodness! Salamanca is unique and most often overlooked because it isn't a major city. Easy to meet people. Beautiful. Relaxed - yet party central. "College town" in Spain. Lots of students...always something to do. Anyone can feel at home in Salamanca. It is laid back during the day and parties all night - the best of both worlds. |
