Como Granada, no hay nada Past Review

By (Global Studies, Providence College) - abroad from 02/02/2013 to 05/17/2013 with

Spain Study Abroad Reflections: Comprehensive Reviews of Past Programs

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned how important it is to go out of your comfort zone; I never thought I would be able to do half of the things I did abroad without being pushed out of my usual surroundings. My experience was definitely worthwhile and I would love to go back!

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The amount of work was appropriate for a study abroad experience. We did have homework and/or projects but there was still time to enjoy ourselves, meet new people, and explore the city. I really enjoyed our classes in Spanish and learned a lot from them. The social change seminar and service class were helpful and informative but could get a bit boring at points, but I guess that is to be expected sometimes.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The administration was amazing! I loved each and every one of the professors; they really care about how you are doing and make you feel right at home. Further, I learned more Spanish from them than from any of my past Spanish teachers combined. Our academic director was also great; she was always there for you if you had any worries or doubts or just wanted someone to talk to.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

They home-stay family with whom I stayed with were charming. They were so sweet and supportive, especially in the beginning when the language barrier was most difficult. Living with my family was one of my favorite parts of my experience. The only, small downside was that our flat/apartment was a 40 minutes by public bus from school every day. After a while, this just became part of the routine and I didn't mind it but at first, I had to adjust to being a commuter for school.

* Food:

My host-mom was an amazing cook so I truly lucked out. I really broadened my horizons with the foods I ate which made my experience that much more enriching. Also, you don't have to spend a lot of extra money on food since you are provided meals every day.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The program did an excellent job integrating us into Spanish culture. Behinds living with a Spanish family, we each had community service a couple times a week in the community where we interacted with a local organization, school, or hospital (I worked at an animal refuge). This allowed me to talk to people of all ages about their lives and of course help with my language level. Further, we could choose to be set up with a Spanish student our age to talk with or hang out with once or twice a week to improve our Spanish.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I was sick once during the semester and was brought to the clinic right down the road from school where I was prescribed medicine without a problem.

* Safety:

I always felt extremely safe in Granada. Of course, like anywhere you shouldn't be roaming around on your own at night but when I was out with my friends, I never encountered any problems.

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)

It was not too difficult to live on a budget in Granada. Since food was already taken care of, I typically didn't spend much money during the week (except on tea and gelato!) When you go out for drinks in Granada, you get free tapas (small appetizers/plates) so you don't have to spend a lot on food if you're hungry. The drinks were also really cheap!! Especially in comparison to other cities in Europe.

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

Our professors and director were always reminding us to speak in Spanish. However, we would slip back into English when outside of school.

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Beginner
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Advanced
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? Speak it with the other kids in your program outside the classroom too!!! I wish we had done that more because speaking is the hardest part of learning a new language for me. Whenever I left school or hung out with the other students, we often got lazy and just spoke in English but we all would have improved even more if we had always spoken in Spanish.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
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?
  • immersion
  • trips/excursions
  • our school/professors
* What could be improved?
  • class schedule was long (9am-2pm)
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? You really get to explore a lot of Spain through the trips the program provides you and they are all amazing. There is a week off for Semana Santa when most students travel. However, classes are 5 days/week so if you want to do a lot of traveling to different countries outside of the program, plan your trips for after the program ends! Granada is not the easiest city to fly in and out of internationally. But it's definitely worth it!

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 Blazer
Craving 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.'