I love Spain. I didn't love this program. Past Review
By Bonnie Elene D (Spanish Language, Literature, University of Connecticut) - abroad from 01/16/2015 to 05/17/2015 with
UConn: Granada - UConn in Granada, Spain
I learned to be patient when acclimating to a new environment and culture and how to be more tolerant of others. My language skills improved immensely and I learned how to travel on a budget while being able to get in as much as possible.
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. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I don't ever refer to the woman I lived with as my "host mother," as she was anything but. I hated going back to my apartment and I started to dread any time I had to spend with her. She commented on my weight and everything I ate, even after I told her countless times that I didn't like it. She went through my room when I wasn't home and she mad me put lotion all over her when she was sick. Her grandchildren came over twice a week every week, and they were the most poorly behaved children I had ever been around. I started eating out all the time because I hated going back to the apartment. |
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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: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | €50 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Avoid going out to eat if you can. It's fun but it will all add up and you'll have nothing to show for the money spent. |
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? | 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? | Spanish 3267W |
| 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? | Participate in "intercambios" and even if you don't like your living arrangements, communicate with your señora or family in the native language as much as you can. |
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 I had known how awful the living arrangements were. And I wish I had known what my literature professor was like because she had a huge negative impact on my time in Spain. |
