Best experience of my life June 19, 2023
By Gina Maria F (Wellesley College) - abroad from 01/29/2023 to 05/24/2023 with
PRESHCO: Study Abroad in Córdoba, Spain
gained language skills, confidence, new friends
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Not rigorous, but I loved that! It allowed me to have time to devout to spanish language tutoring, travel, and exploring the city. The Spanish students aren't very friendly or outgoing at first, but its easy to make friends with other international students. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Preshco has the most excellent team. I felt supported, safe, well informed and cared for the whole time I was there. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I loved my host family! I lived in a great location and the host family aspect is very helpful for language acquisition |
| * Food: |
Spanish food was much more basic than I was expecting, and much less flavorful. My host mom was a really good cook, but I know other students in my program had difficult food situations. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I honestly felt safer in Córdoba than I would in many American cities. Night life is very normalized so it was common to see families, children, elderly adults out late and so I felt safer whenever I was going out. Obviously its still important to always be aware of your surroundings, but I felt very safe. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I couldn't imagine a better semester. The worst part was the lack of diversity in the food in the area of Spain where we were, and that is a minor detail, which just shows how nearly perfect an experience I had. |
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) |
Very easy to have a complete and fun experience on a low budget. We were given cultural allowances each week to spend around the city or anywhere in spain, and we had many tours and trips planned into the program at no extra cost. I did spend a lot of money, but that was a personal choice (travel outside of Spain, going out with friends, shopping) |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $200 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | make a budget for yourself ahead of time of what you're willing to spend, and on what specifically you want to spend it on. Its easy to spend a lot of money on food and drinks without realizing it. |
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 |
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| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| 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? | 300 level |
| 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? | Go to the including tutoring! They are so fun and you will learn a lot and be less stressed because they can help with your homework |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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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? | The area is conservative when it comes to gender and race/colonization |
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.' |
