Valencia now feels like another home. I will be going back for sure. Past Review
By Patrick N (Mathematics, Spanish, Luther College) for
ISA Study Abroad in Valencia, Spain
This experience has opened my eyes to so many things, primarily a different lifestyle. I have traveled a lot with my family before, but to have this opportunity to live in a different culture for a few months was simply amazing! I feel much more educated and now able to look at other lifestyles (including those in the USA) with an enlightened and open view.
Personal Information
| 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. |
It was great to be introduced to another system of education. The academics were at the right level: involved, but not rigorous. I went abroad to experience another culture and learn another language, not to immerse myself in academically rigorous studies, so it was perfect. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The ISA Valencia staff are absolutely brilliant. They were always open, positive, and approachable, very willing to help with anything we needed, and very knowledgable about what was happening in Valencia |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
A lot of times, we were treated as family, but there were times when I felt very much like a business client. On these occasions, it seemed like our host mom cared about making a few extra euros than the relationship with us. |
| * Food: |
Our host mom was a very good cook (a few sketchy dishes, but other than that, excellent food). I would definitely recommend finding a few local, small, or family-owned restaurants. Get to know some of the staff there and develop those relationships |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
We traveled to Barcelona, Madrid, Toledo, Granada, Seville, and Morocco with ISA. They were all wonderful trips. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I never felt unsafe in Valencia. The only issue during the semester was that one of the girls got her walet stolen from her purse in a packed club. ISA Valencia staff did a fantastic job informing us about situations in which pick-pocketing would be a potential issue, but never "babied" us about it, I always felt treated as an adult, which was very appreciated. |
| 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 |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
i could practice Spanish with my program directors (all from Spain), university professors, locals, my host family, and other students |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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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? | Especially at the begining, at least until you get a feel for how you'll be living, be very frugle with money. At least be very conscious of your money. The first month was when I spent the most. Looking back, I could have saved a lot. |
