An Unforgettable Semester in Oviedo, Spain Past Review

By (Anthropology., Rollins College) for

University of Oviedo: Oviedo - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Going to Spain was definitely one of the best things I did while in college. It opened my eyes to so many things and helped me to have a different perspective on life. It's interesting to grow up in one culture and then live somewhere else and really adapt to their way of life. I would do it again if I ever had the chance. After this semester abroad I am now looking into more programs abroad as well as possible jobs for after graduation that might allow me to stay in another country. I may even go back to Spain to teach English for a while.

Review Photos

Direct Enrollment: Oviedo - La Universidad de Oviedo Photo Direct Enrollment: Oviedo - La Universidad de Oviedo Photo Direct Enrollment: Oviedo - La Universidad de Oviedo Photo Direct Enrollment: Oviedo - La Universidad de Oviedo Photo

Personal Information

If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: Universidad de Oviedo
How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The workload was very light which allowed more time to absorb the Spanish culture and practice conversational skills with host families, Spanish students, and the Oviedo community. The professors were always very helpful and would take time to explain everything if students had questions, and they were always available for help outside of class. The grading system was harsher compared to Rollins especially when the grades translated. I think the number grading system could have corresponded to the Rollins letter system more fairly.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Our program in Spain had one advisor, Paco, and he was great. He was always available to help us with any problems we might have with our hosts, school, or general questions. We had a group lunch with him once a week and also did occasional field trips to other areas of Asturias with him as our guide. He definitely helped us get more out of the experience by showing us these cultural sites.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

My host family was amazing. I just lived with one woman in her apartment which was only a block from the university and 5 blocks from the center of town. The location was excellent and the apartment itself was great. I had my own room and bathroom and didn't have to buy anything to settle in. My host mom helped me improve my Spanish a lot and he also took me to other areas of Asturias and showed me around Oviedo. We became very good friends.

* Food:

My host mom was a very good cook and introduced me to many types of Spanish and Asturian dishes. It was much cheaper to eat at home then to constantly go out to restaurants.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

There were always things to see and do in Oviedo. The most memorable cultural event was probably Carnaval. We were able to go to three Carnaval celebrations in the cities surrounding Oviedo and watched the extravagant parades as well as witnessed the cultural activities surrounding the event.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

I always felt safe in Oviedo. As long as you are smart and walk on the main streets at night and try to stay with a group or at least one other person when it is really late at night then you might feel more secure. I never really felt endangered in any way, even walking home at 5:00 in the morning. I went to the doctor once which was actually a really quick and easy process, but it was a bit difficult to understand the doctors because I didn't know all of the vocabulary they were using.

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? I didn't spend much on food because I tried to eat at home as much as I could. Other money throughout the week was spent on coffee and other things from cafes, going out at night, or travel expenses. I would say I went through around $2,500-$3,000 during the five months I was there, but the majority of that went towards travel expenses. Weekly expenses were probably less than 30 or 40 Euro. It really just depends on how you want to spend your money.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Eat at home as much as you can. That is the easiest way to save money. Eating in restaurants will be the fastest way to run out of money while abroad. Also, traveling gets fairly expensive. Even the cheap airlines have very steep charges for bags, overweight bags, etc. which can add up quickly.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Beginner
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Hispanic Literature- SPN 290
If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition?

Language acquisition improvement?

Almost no one in Oviedo spoke English or they wouldn't use it if you tried which really helped everyone to improve their speaking skills. We had to use Spanish in everyday interactions with everyone in town, host families, professors, and with Spanish students. I practiced Spanish with my host mom and Spanish student conversation partners the most.

Direct Enrollment/Exchange

* Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? Direct Enrollment

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

A Look Back

* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? If you haven't studied abroad yet, you definitely should. There is no other time to spend a stress-free few months living in another country while learning the language and culture. If you are serious about improving your Spanish you have to live somewhere where you have to use it everyday to get around. You improve more than you ever thought you could. This program is very well developed and provides so many extras that you won't find anywhere else. The housing and food is all provided by your host, and you have an adviser to show you around the region and help you with anything you could need. There are excursions to show you different aspects of the region, and they are all free. My best advice for when you get to Oviedo is to branch out. You have to make Spanish friends and spend time with your conversation partners. That's how you get a unique experience out of the program. Having Spanish friends really makes the experience so much more fun because they live there and know where to go and introduce you to new people.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Spanish Art

Course Department: SPN 300
Instructor: Laura
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: We learned so much about Spanish art and time periods and were actually able to see some of the art and architecture firsthand in some Oviedo museums.
Credit Transfer Issues: No, but the grading translation seemed a bit harsh.