Overall very positive experience! Past Review
By Sarah A (Spanish, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota) - abroad from 02/01/2014 to 06/07/2014 with
SSA Education Abroad: Seville - Semester, Year or Summer in Seville
"Was it worthwhile?" Worthwhile is an understatement. I am so lucky to have been able to study in Seville with the people and the host family that I had. I am amazed at how much fun I had and how much I learned. I will always be grateful, I will always love my second home, and of course I have incurable wanderlust. This program has given me so much, including some plans for the future and a better grasp of my Spanish. I loved talking to my host family about everything, we had very real conversations about things that were happening in the city, from drinking to the government. If you don't want a local's perspective, you can easily avoid it. However if you're open to the experience, I found it extremely gratifying to really understand life in the city and all its ups and downs. And as I mentioned, this also contributed to my decisions about my future. My host family and my second home (Seville) gave me a new perspective and renewed joy for life. That is what I gained and that is, to me, more than worthwhile.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
It's called STUDY abroad for a reason! I learned so much and had wonderful professors. It's a shame there were so many students who didn't care, but if you are willing to work you will gain SO much! |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Everyone in the office was friendly and ready to help me with any questions. However, they definitely could have been more communicative about our calendar, events, prices, etc. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My host family was the most amazing aspect of my trip. I enjoyed every moment with them and I am incredibly lucky! I 100% recommend a homestay! |
| * Food: |
Be prepared for traditional foods! If you're a picky eater (like me) you probably won't like tapas. Don't be afraid to try it though! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Putting myself out there was #1 priority and I had an amazing time doing it! |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I had no health issues. |
| * Safety: |
The weekends included drinking and clubbing. Even if you are not actively participating in this, know that it will still affect you. Some neighborhoods are noisier, some people might try to talk to you on the street. That will happen in broad daylight, too. Unfortunately, I experienced plenty of street harassment and it was very upsetting. As a young woman, I wished that that wasn't happening to me, however I didn't feel that my life was in danger at any time during my 4 months. Just be careful out there, everyone! |
| 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) |
3.5 stars meaning $50 per week? This is a difficult question because costs are different for every person. Some weeks I spent 5 euro the whole week just buying lunch with friends. Other weeks I dropped hundreds of euro on a flight and hostel in another country. It totally depends on you! Know that discotecas cost money - estimate 10 euro for entry plus drinks. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Maybe 5-15 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Buy plane tickets ahead of time - 7 weeks if you can. Train and bus tickets don't really change much, so if you're looking for a spontaneous trip try Ronda, Cádiz, Jeréz, Córdoba, Málaga... there are many cities you can visit! |
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 |
Sign the Spanish Only Policy and for goodness' sake stick to it! I promise you will gain SO much more if you focus on your Spanish! |
| 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? | Don Quixote at SMU |
| 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? | Chat with your host family, the waiter, the bartender, the flight attendant, people on the street, offer to help someone who looks lost, JUST DO IT! |
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? | I wish that I had known how much the city had to offer. I truly feel that I didn't see enough! |
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! |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Sociología del Mundo Árabe Contemporáneo |
| Course Department: | The University of Seville |
| Instructor: | Dra. María Mercedes Delgado Peréz |
| Instruction Language: | Spanish |
| Comments: | This was my class at the University - it was challenging and fun! This is when I got to interact with Sevillan@s and it was absolutely awesome! |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
