Fabulous Experience in Stunning Córdoba Past Review
By A student (Wellesley College) - abroad from 08/25/2016 to 12/19/2016 with
PRESHCO: Study Abroad in Córdoba, Spain
My host family will be lifetime friends of mine, I made new Wellesley and Smith friends, my Spanish improved immensely, and I got to spend four months in one of the most beautiful and ancient European cities. The program and university did have its flaws, but not enough to make me regret this experience in any way. I learned to be more independent, to trust in my language skills, and to throw myself wholly into an experience to get the most out of it.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
UCO is not at all on par with Wellesley. The student body is unmotivated, unfocused, and questioned why we would want to take classes at their university. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Administration of PRESHCO is fantastic!! The staff is so fun, understanding, and easy-going. They organized great trips and outings that I will remember forever. My only issue is that the staff was too easy-going as we were trying to figure out what classes to take and how to find our way around the facultad. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My homestay was easily the best part of my semester in Spain. My host family could not have made me fell more welcomed and loved. I absolutely adored them. They dedicated themselves to making my Spanish better, incorporating me into their family, and making sure I was well-fed and happy. We talk everyday now that I'm home and I couldn't feel luckier to have met them. |
| * Food: |
Always so delicious! |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I definitely stood out as an outsider even though I looked just like any Spaniard, but nobody was ever rude to me. People definitely asked so many questions about our election and politics, but I expected that and answered them to the best of my abilities. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I did not have any health issue that warranted a trip to the doctor. |
| * Safety: |
Córdoba is REALLY safe. I never felt unsafe even at 3am, but as a woman, I did get cat-called all the time, which was completely annoying. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I would choose the same program again, but I wish I had known before just how different the academic experience would be. |
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) |
Córdoba is very inexpensive, so it was easy to live on a student budget. Things get more expensive if you choose to travel around Europe, but that's not mandatory, of course. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $10-$15 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Not really, just be rational and spend wisely! Treat yourself from time to time as study abroad is such a unique experience :) |
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 |
We were heavily encouraged to speak Spanish all the time and it was immensely helpful. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| 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? | SPAN 324 at Wellesley |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 10+ |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Speak Spanish, listen to it, watch the news as much as you possibly can. I went in with the goal of leaving with immensely improved Spanish and I did accomplish it, but only because I put that effort in. I'm obviously not fluent yet, but I'm much closer and it's incredibly gratifying to feel that work pay off. |
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? |
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? | I wish I had known that students in Córdoba are not motivated students. It's hard to be motivated when the people around you are not, so I wish I had been more prepared for that before going into the experience. I wish I had explored more course options before settling on the ones I picked, but in the end, my Spanish improved and I got to speak it all the time, so that was hugely beneficial. |
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! |
