CEA CAPA Education Abroad Reviews

Great program all around. Some of the best standouts that this program did was the housing that you were put in. I had an up to date apartment with a balcony in Saints Estacio, two blocks from Camp Nou. I was paired up with three other people from the US and we all went to the same school. The school itself was nice, though it was a branch campus which kind of stinks because the main campus is old and beautiful looking. The branch campus was just a regular building that had normal size classroom (average: 20 students). The professors were the best, learning everything from business culture to everyday living in different countries. The professors were well knowledgeable and engaging with every student. Also, my favorite part of being in the city was taking the metro to class every day. Every student basically commuted to school using the Metro unless the program housed you in a different area in the city that was close. Students are spread out through the city. Where I lived there were a group of girls in our program that were two floors below us but learned other people were scattered in different parts of the city. I think that is one thing to keep in mind, the housing is not like dorming at an American school.

The program was also great in the aspect of creating mini-trips throughout your time studying abroad. The program had day trips and weekend trips to different cities that involved tours and little workshops to learn about the culture in that specific city.

With everyday activities and events, Barcelona itself is such a fun city as they are always celebrating holidays and putting on the weekend events. A student will never run out of things to do in Barcelona. As far as safety goes, there are some unsafe parts but that is every city. Watch out for pickpocketers and areas that may not be the safest at night and you will be fine. So many places to see and the nightlife is amazing! people are always out and about and transportation such as the Metro is so easy and fast!

I think the only issue I had was not staying long enough. The summer semester was too short for me (8 weeks) and should have done a fall or spring semester in Barcelona.

I decided to use Barcelona SAE to give myself an opportunity to work abroad. I wanted to see what the tourism and hospitality industry was and how to run it effectively. I decided to pay extra to live with a Spanish family to further use my Spanish that I had been studying for a long time.

I was assigned to work with a hostel booking agency and I was excited to learn more about the company and what my responsibilities would be. I was disappointed that all they expected of me was to write blogs in English about places I had never been to. I mentioned that I was fluent in Italian and they had me translate parts of those webpage into Italian. I felt frustrated that I was not learning anything about the hospitality industry and I was bored as I listened in to conversations between my coworkers in Catalan.
Perhaps the bar was set low by the previous interns. After all it was explained to me near the end of my internship that I was the first intern they had ever had that spoke Spanish. My internship was overall a waste of money as I learned little since I could have done all of the tasks required of me from my home and the educational part of the internship was never apparent even though I was friends with my coworkers and we got along well.

It should be noted that I did contact Barcelona SAE and they helped me get more responsibility but the improvement was minimal.

I don't really know who is to blame for this, it could be me for having higher expectations from a 20 hour a week internship. Or it's just the fact that I went to Spain for the internship, not for Spain.
My living arrangements were okay. My bedframe was literally held together by tape. It didn't break at any point, luckily. I didn't expect air conditioning since I had lived in the Mediterranean for two years and I know it's a luxury item. But I did expect a fan. I had to ask for one once summer hit full force. The fan given to me was the size of my fist. It was a small room (at 5'6" I'm not tall but I barely had room to do push-ups) but the entire time I was there there was a larger fan that was not available for me to use because it was "dirty". I offered to clean it myself but they said I couldn't use it. Also, the son of the family who lived accros the hall from me smoked like a chimney for the first two or three weeks. I had to ask them to stop. I shouldn't have to ask as that is one of our rules for our host families.
Our breakfast and dinners were provided for us by our hosts but we had to fend for ourselves for lunches. I was allowed to store some things in the fridge but not allowed to use anything in the kitchen to cook. I like to cook. I could have saved a lot of money were I able to use the kitchen.
I had roommates that lived with me in the place and I would say that they were the highlights of my experience. We went places together and spent time together. We were good friends.

My time spent in Granada would not have been the same without the amazing CEA staff there to guide and support me. I was paired up with the most amazing host mom who not only made delicious Spanish cuisine but made me feel part of her family. The activities within the CEA program were culturally enriched and made me broaden my entire perspective. There was never a point in my stay in Granada where I felt unsafe or felt I had no one to talk to, the Granada staff was amazingly organized and friendly. My favorite activity was the trip to Morocco. The reason being that CEA organized a sit down meal with a Moroccan family. The people were fantastic, the food was fantastic, and the experience was unforgettable.

Barcelona SAE allowed me to work abroad and submerge myself in the politics, culture, and social scene of a different country. It was truly wonderful to have a group of people help you find an internship customized to you as well as set up all accommodations so that my time once I got to Barcelona could be used as efficiently as possible. The help from the team allowed me to venture on my own and have my own independent experience as well as choose times to bond with other people on the trip; it was the perfect mix of the independence of solo travel and the security of knowing you have someone to help should something come up. I had such an enriching experience and would recommend it to anyone looking to go abroad.

CEA London was challenging, incredibly beautiful, and the trip of a lifetime. London was the perfect destination for me considering my criminal justice major. The city is the birthplace of everything that makes the criminal justice system was founded from. London is also a hotpot of cultures ready to push me out of my small town comfort zone.

The CEA staff in London were always accommodating, truly listened, and cared for us while we were there. I can't believe what they had on their plate. It all seemed effortless from our end. We witnessed the hiccups they had to deal with and accommodate, through no fault of their own, with ease.

I was placed in a huge flat with four other girls in a two bedroom/two bathroom. Our placement was providential! I was in a room with Megan and we got along famously. Along with the three girls in the other room we had almost NO snags when it came to getting along. We often did things together and remained connected afterward.

I cannot say enough how the excursions included really rounded out the study abroad experience. Musicals in Piccadilly Circus, Jack the Ripper walk, boat tours, grand skyscraper views, museum tours, and more! This freed my time to try and make real connections with the community in London. I didn't have to worry I may be missing out on tourist destinations. I made real connections with Londoners that will last a lifetime. Even though the culture of the area can be standoffish once you break through their shyness it is rewarding.

The academics through CEA were intellectually invigorating. The teachers were top notch. The outings included within those courses were also very stimulating culturally as well as intellectually.

It took a bit of time for my friends, and I to become accustom to life in another country. The first few weeks were tough due to the life style change. Don’t let this comment deter you from experiencing life in another country. It’s helped me to come a more cultured, and well-rounded individual— not to mention employers like to see this sort of experience on a resume. It shows that you have the ability to adapt to diversity which is a very attractive quality.

We often travelled on the weekends. We would pack light, and use low cost airlines like EasyJet, or Ryanair. Flying allowed us to have the maximum amount of time to enjoy our trips to other countries. Trains are nice, but they don’t take you from point A to point B in enough time to experience your destination before work the following Monday.

Overall, this program was great. The housing location was ideal, and there were company representatives on call for emergencies, to answer simple questions, or to give advice. I highly recommend this program for any college student that wants to experience life in another country.

Blaugrana al vent
un crit valent
tenim un nom el sap tothom:
Barça, Barça, Baaarça!

I studied abroad with Barcelona SAE during my sophomore year at Colorado State University. I was a double major in business and Spanish looking for a way to incorporate both aspects of my studies in my study abroad experience. After discussing what I was looking for with one of their reps, it was an easy choice to study with Barcelona SAE. What I loved the most about BSAE was how honed in they were regarding personalizing my time abroad. They offered cultural activities such as cooking classes, both national and international excursions as well as assistance with enrolling in classes, airport pickup and homestay accommodations. Any fears that I had about studying and living abroad were quickly alleviated by the staff and their willingness to work with their students to ensure their continued happiness and level of comfort.
I don’t have a favorite single moment of my time abroad, because the entire experience was honestly a dream in and of itself. Everyday I would work on my Spanish language skills both in classes and through simply living and studying in a foreign city. My host mom, who was already impressed with my knowledge of Spanish when I arrived, moved me when she commented on how much my speaking abilities had improved in my short, four months abroad. I also took classes related to both of my majors with emphasis on the cultural and linguistic aspects of conducting business in a city such as Barcelona. I made friends from both around the US and Spain whose friendship I will forever cherish.
My time in Barcelona has convinced me that Spain will always have a part of my heart, and I’m sure it will pull me back. I’ve already returned to Barcelona and actually interned with Barcelona Study Abroad Experience (another incredible opportunity), but there is no doubt in my mind that I’ll return to Barcelona again (hopefully permanently next time!).

Upon coming to Barcelona, I thought it would be a whole different world of weird tales every day. Barcelona SAE made my program feel like home. My favorite element is that it wasn't a program through my university meaning I got to meet so many different people from different schools. This program was pretty inclusive especially with all the counselors, teachers, staff, and weekend trips. It made Barcelona feel like a second home.

This was one of the most memorable adventures I have ever experienced. The program was on the smaller side, roughly 12-15 students, which meant the trips, tours, and dining through the program was intimate and geared toward everyone's tastes. They didn't constantly provide programming, which was great because for the most part we were able to choose our own day-to-day and weekend trips. They provided the pre-planned portion of the schedule in advance so it was easy to decide when we would be travelling solo. The events they did include were tours of the Gothic part of the city, several museum passes, the first few days they made sure to schedule activities so the attendees could get grounded without being overwhelmed by a new city and get to make friends with the other students. They provided us with tips, tricks, and safety advice. About mid-trip (week 3 out of 6 weeks) we took a 3-day weekend tour to 4 cities, with a two-night stay in Costa Brava. It was amazingly beautiful, and not an overly tourist driven city - which was SO cool. The program really encouraged you to not be the average american study abroad participant, they wanted you to experience Barcelona more organically. My friends and I enjoyed the housing they found for us, which was a private 3 bedroom apartment in a residential barrio. This program was one of many that sent students to the larger university, so even if you're looking for a larger program you can still get that vibe when you go to class. The program also schedule cultural events at least once a week (flamenco dancing, tapas dinners out, watching soccer games at the local bars) which was awesome. Seriously, I cannot recommend this program enough!!

TLDR: definitely book through Barcelona SAE. They are AWESOME.

This study abroad opportunity was absolutely amazing. SAE will ensure your safety and coordination with your housing situation and classes as well as excursions around the country. Barcelona is an amazing city particularly for young active students looking to make the most of their time abroad. From a rich historical culture to exiting nightlife and exquisite cuisine there is something in Barcelona for everyone. Do not miss this chance to visit Barcelona with this amazing program, you will make friends and memories that will last a lifetime.