Valencia wins your heart Past Review

By (Spanish, University of Massachusetts Amherst) for

ISA Study Abroad in Valencia, Spain

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Completely.

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.

All the work seemed to come at the same time, and all at the end of the program.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

There were a lot of americans in the program, but it wasn't too bad. I did expect to be taking classes with other spanish students, but it ended up being just fine the way it worked out because at least the classes were still taught completely in the native language.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

We were treated semi-warmly, but never like family. I had an american roommate who talked a lot, and sometimes I thought that my house mother hated me or then other times she seems really nice and friendly, so maybe it was just mood swings, or bad days like everyone has.

* Food:

100 Montaditos was delicious, and if you do not like ham, or any other kind of pig product, then maybe Spain is not the best choice for you. They have ham flavored chips.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Fallas was amazing, do botellon.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

I overall felt very safe. To be honest, at first I was sort of afraid of all the men with their commenting but then soon came to realize they are just harmless, and do not want anything more than just to express their opinion, in hopes of a reaction but would never seem physical or abrasive.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

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)

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
Language acquisition improvement?

I could practice with my host family, my teachers, and the program directors. I needed to use the host language every day, but most of my friends within the program, my american friends, all spoke english to one another.

If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • Host Family