934 reviews
4.25 / 5 based on 934 reviews
Useful |
5
simpsonal
Overall
I wish I had known...
Its worth taking some lessons in dance here, the flamenco schools et cetera are famous throughout the world here it is not a resource to consider idley. In Spain if you are afraid to stick your neck out you can really lose out. There are mountain walks, camping trips etc which are great - the nature here is so beautiful. A visit to the Alpujarra should be on your list - the next Dalai Lama was located at a temple there. Yoga/Meditation sessions there, a little pricey but you will meet some Spanish celebrities! These kids are used to taking the initiative and organising things together, Spanish friends are very important.
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In my opinion:
Everybody loved it, you will too!
Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important
Personal recommendation
Granada is a lovely place to be. Andaluzes and Spanish in general gave me an ability to enjoy life and make the most out of situations that I did not have before. Once you learn how to join in the Cachondeo (boystrous joking) you really laugh til you cry very, very often.
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During my experience abroad, I ...
(1) Never – (4) A lot
Became familiar with another culture
Met people from other countries
Experienced a change in life
Advanced my studies & career
Final comments
Talk to the people - they will give you advice on everything from the best travel agent to the best mobile phone to the best books for courses....they talk so much that they are your main resourse for most information. Some people will have difficulty leaving home for the first time, forming strong friendships and an active social life will soften the blow.
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Useful |
2
simpsonal
Expenses
Main source of funding:
Family
Other sources of funding:
Personal savings<br>
An ERASMUS grant
Work opportunities:
I didn't want/need to work
Personal spending habits
Spain is half the price of UK. The copas are huge and so cheap! The food (Pata negra hmmmmm) is so good, especially pork but all fruit and veg is the best. Clubs cheap too, can be too full cos numbers rarely counted. In spring can drink in park making things cheaper. Vegetarians are going to be frustrated with the food here.
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Housing, Overall, Nightlife, Food, Telephone, Travel:
was less expensive than at home.
Accessibility of student needs
Second-hand household items
Personal comments
Brits can get a tax saving abroad but make sure that you get a form which means that you can arrange money transfers by fax. Then when you get here you can open an account and transfer by swift. Highly recommend visiting your UK bank before departure and consider opening a separate account with low charges on Pound/Euro exchange. Spanish banks will make you wait a couple of months before you have to re-apply for a cash card. Banks here offer much reduced services. Recommend you bank with a Caja with good national coverage, many are local eg: CAJA GRANADA has a branch on every st in Granada are very few in other cities. High charges for using other card group facilities. Nice you can charge mobile from cash-point. Mobiles here are v.expensive to run. Kids give each other tokes (missed calls) to get each others attention. Skiing is surprisingly expensive but there are cheap days "promocion". Wait for the snow or brake a bone (I did). Obviously be very careful with your wallet and mobile because they'll get stolen in two seconds, even though Andalusian are generally very decent and not prone to violence at all. Careful of gypsies and shabby looking women trying to read your palms. Some Spanish guys can give foreign girls stick (they often think you are guarra), but make Spanish guy friends and u have no problem. Meet some rich locals to really live it up.
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Useful |
1
simpsonal
Academic
Course recommendations
Mine was a special case - I had a single research project to do and co-ordinated a lot with my tutor. Other students got very little support. When you first arrive go to the International Students Office or you won't get spanish classes until Spring. There is a big book of electives which is funky but you need to arrive a week early to organise yourself. I'm talking hour long queues for everything.
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My academic experiences
Interaction with teachers
Interaction with international students
Interaction with local students
Personal comments
Not for me to say, the academics have to dedicate much more time to teaching than research, though, which probably means that international pedigree suffers. Undergrad business school in Madrid ICADE is very highly thought of. Everything has to be done in a lot of time in Spain, people won't rush for you here.
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My opinion of the university assessment
Exams throughout the course
Essays and/or projects at the end of course
Essays and/or projects throughout the course
Useful |
1
simpsonal
Languages
Language of instruction: Spanish
Was learning Spanish a key decision factor?
Yes, I wanted to improve my Spanish
How much did you improve your Spanish?
My level before: Everyday knowledge (shopping, directions, etc.)
My level after: No problems in any areas (including slang)
Language difficulties
Administrative / Institutional
Personal comments
Andalusian people have crazy ass accents and eat lots of letters, use strange phrases like "al carajo", "illo", and "pisha". Canarian people too, but they are very warm and easy going. Again nothing like staying in a private residence with lots of people to really learn good Spanish. I didn't mix with other ERASMUS students to concentrate and in hindsight a good balance may have been healthier because I arrived home really out of touch and missing Spain too much.
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Useful |
1
simpsonal
Student life
Describe host city:
Student life dominates the city
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Nightlife, Activities: Takes place mostly within the university/student environment
Travel: Takes place both within and outside of the university/student environment
Personal social experience
Personal comments
The best place for a botellon is always changing now. Nice places for tapas around Plaza de Toros and Calle Elvira. Best bars along Paseo de los Tristes (gay bars there too). Best clubs got to be Planta Baja and Sala Principe. Don't expect hip music, though! Find out about the ferrias and get to all of them - Cadiz, Xerez (la ciudad sin ley), Cordoba, Granada. Don't go home for easter - I took a trip to Cadiz coast and shot to Seville for a few processions and loved it. Gaditanos are the friendliest people in Spain. Trips to Alicante, Valencia, Barca, Madrid are all worth the crazy bus journeys. Guys join a "TUNA" its mad.
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Useful |
0
simpsonal
Housing
Type of housing: Colegio Mayor
Arranged by: Independently - I had no other choice
If returning, I would choose: Mixed Colegio Mayor
Why?
Private residences in Spain are great because they tend to be 99% Spanish kids, with lots of activities organised there is every opportunity to integrate and make a lot of Spanish friends. On the down side they love to know everyone's stories and living in a single sex residence is not cool. Find a mixed Colegio Mayor are you are laughing. Isabel La Catolica looks good mixed. Spanish are a lot of fun - the Andaluz boys would play guitar and sing flamenco at all our barbeque parties I loved it.
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Personal comments
No university accomodation. Arrange in May/June time for a private residence. Otherwise arrive a couple of weeks early and really beautiful places can be found around Plaza Nueva. Trees are always covered in ads for flat-shares during the first term.
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