Living in Barcelona allowed me to live my life as the main character January 05, 2021
By Natalie Peters (California Baptist University) - abroad from 09/01/2019 to 12/13/2019 with
Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona - UAB / University Autonoma of Barcelona: Direct Enrollment & Exchanges
I learned to enjoy life and have fun. If I put my mental health and happiness first, everything else will come easy.
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. |
teachers only gave assignments for what was important. there was no busy work. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I loved my residents directors. they were so sweet and made me feel safe and loved from the first day. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I loved my apartment. We were only about 3 blocks away from the sagrada familia and were also in close access to everything we needed. |
| * Food: |
food was delicious and the grocery store was pretty cheap. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I integrated best when I did things that were traditional for the Spanish such as attending the festivals that took place and just enjoying life. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I felt really safe here even as a black woman. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
It was just so amazing. I wish I could do it all over again or stay for a year rather than a semester |
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? | probably about 50-75 dollars |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | do not be excessive with your purchases. Cook more and eat out less and be sure to attend all the free events! They are really fun. |
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? | None |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | None |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Spanish 3 from high school |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 0 |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | I guess duolingo would have been helpful |
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 was very informed before going due to my home institution and aifs. I have no complaints because they prepared me well. |
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 Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
