Why did you choose this program?
CIEE had everything I was looking for in living abroad. They are always available to answer any questions you have, and they offer a week long orietiontation as soon as you arrive. During the orientation, they gave me the resources to obtain a bank account, apply for a foreign identity card, and contact my school to get set up in Spain.
What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?
As mentioned above. They provided me with questions I needed answers to, including how to apply and set up housing. The next steps were entirely on my own. Finding housing took me about 3 weeks. Getting my TIE card has taken about 2 months or so. They give the information; its up to you to complete it.
What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?
Something I wish I knew ahead of time was a better understanding of the language. There have been moments when I wish I knew Spanish better. I´m still learning and taking classes, but that is something that would have really saved me time and trouble. Another piece of advice is to pack lighter than you think.
What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?
I go to work at my school Monday through Thursday, starting at 9 am and getting off at 2 pm. If there is a day you know you will miss, you must notify the director so you can make up the day by going in on a Friday. My commute each morning is about 1.5 hours via train. Each class is about 45 minutes, and each teacher has a different style.
Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?
My biggest fear was not knowing anyone and finding friends. Luckily, there are many ways to fix this. I´ve been going to language exchanges to practice Spanish, and my fellow TAs are always up for a nice chat every break time. Also, I occasionally keep up with some TA´s from orientation. We did a friendsgiving that was fun.
What was the craziest thing that happened to you while abroad in Spain so far?
It was definitely the time when I called an Uber to the wrong school on the first day. Here in Spain, the train system is the most common way to travel. I didn´t know this, and decided to take an Uber on my first day at my assigned school. I ended up in a random town very far from where I was supposed to be. The next day, I decided that my only option was to walk 2 hours to the town where my school was!