Program Reviews

I saw so much of the city! Class loads differ depending on what you're taking, but mine allowed me a lot of free time to go around and explore. I found CEA CAPA a little confusing before I took off, but they were a lot of help once I landed. The only complaint I have is that housing was situated relatively far from campus and public transportation. I would usually walk 30+ minutes to get to class, but the area felt very safe so I had no problem doing so. Overall, I had a great time and met a lot of wonderful people.

Summer Abroad in London, what more can you ask for? Most definitely the absolute BEST experience I have ever had in my life. From going to a different pub every night, to watching the FA Cup Final in the 3rd row of Wembley Stadium. It was pretty much a dream come true for me, especially as a club soccer player here at Purdue. I had the chance to go and catch 3 different games when I was there, a regular league match, a final, and an international friendly. Being able to roam London freely was a dream come true.

Going to Madrid through CEA CAPA was one of the best decisions of my life. CEA was super helpful in navigating this new country and making sure we were comfortable in our housing, navigating around, and making new friends. They held the most helpful orientation and plenty of optional events throughout the semester such as trips to nearby cities, a flamenco night, a cooking class, and a tapas night. These allowed us to be immersed in the culture as well as meet new people. I would go back in a heartbeat!

This past summer I studied abroad in London, UK for one month. The first notable item I would like to start with is the flats we stayed in was in the best location in terms of being walkable to the tube, coffee or food, just about basically everything. I found that being where we were aided to the overall experience, as it was also one of the more considerably safe locations. On the topic of safety, it was very secure to get in as well as the staff was very helpful along with cea capa providing us with steps to get assistance in case of an emergency. There was always support where support was due. While actually doing the studying in studying aboard, I felt that the group was able to get together often enough to understand and comprehend the material. I believe that most of us finished the class with above an A, Over the course of the month, I had the most consistent fun I've had in a really long time. Every day and every evening, there was always an activity going on, in which I usually joined, for the memories. Being exposed to new culture and way of life, that's thousands of miles away from home, forced me to learn more about myself which is fundamental while in your 20s.

Studying abroad in Costa Rica has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life! Throughout my time there, I felt genuinely cared for and supported. The program provided me with a dependable community that was always ready to assist. Whenever I needed support, the onsite team, Maggie and Yeison, were incredibly responsive, whether it was arranging weekend getaways, helping with class changes, finding volunteer opportunities, or navigating Costa Rica. Travel within the country was affordable, and the culture, with its embrace of the "pura vida" lifestyle, offered amazing hospitality and warmth.

I had the time of my life in my CEA CAPA program. It was the perfect length for me and I appreciated that it started in late June, since I attend a school on the quarter system. The Spanish classes I took while abroad were different than any of the courses I have taken in the US because they were extremely interactive and engaging, and my Spanish improved so much because of this. Furthermore, the activities and excursions that the program offered allowed me to experience so much of the city and other cities as well such as Valencia, Spain. Something that made my experience unique was that I got to take my Spanish classes at the University of Barcelona which allowed me to meet so many people from around the world!

Studying abroad through CEA CAPA in Prague was the best decision I ever made. I was able to fully immerse myself in Czech culture by trying new foods, exploring Prague, and learning about the history of the city. The city had so much to offer from its beautiful architecture and art to its distinct food and drink culture. I was also able to meet so many other study abroad students through CEA CAPA some of who I know will be lifelong friends!! Also the classes I took allowed for me to learn so much about Czech culture and history.

In January of 2024 I was able to start my year off strong and attend CEA CAPA Barcelona, Spain. As a second semester Junior at the time, I was able to take 4 psychology classes and 1 sociology class. They were very modern and discussion based which I enjoyed because collaboration to me is the best way to learn, so I am glad CEA CAPA implemented this.

I had professors from all over Europe that are there to help you succeed. My sociology teacher and CEA CAPA staff was a huge impact on my Barcelona experience because they introduced me to T-OIGO. T-OIGO is a volunteering company where I taught a deaf adolescent English. This was the most rewarding part of my experience because I was able to meet a lovely family who made Barcelona more warm for me. To teach this child English I used her interests like poetry, music, television shows, and movies to help drive her motivation.

Barcelona is on my mind at all times. The beautiful structures, delicious food, and diverse crowds are worth every reason to study abroad there. The surrounding nearby countries are also undoubtedly surreal to travel from Barcelona. If you want fast pace and if you want warm sunny weather, Barcelona is the perfect place to study abroad.

My experience in Florence was amazing from start to finish. Upon arriving, we began with orientation, and right from the first day I knew I loved the city and the community among CEA CAPA. The staff was so friendly, cracking jokes, and overall helping us to feel comfortable as we were all in a brand new environment with brand new people. I was lucky enough to travel with one of my best friends from my home university, but I still made great friends in and outside of my classes, people who I would consider lifelong friends. My apartment floor was also about 10 CAPA students (2-4 per apartment), and we all became fast friends, spending down time exploring the city, day or night. The social scene, both Italian and American, was very friendly, and the night scene was a great mix of both, where I was able to feel at home with fellow Americans, while also meeting people who came from a very different world than I did. The academic scene also provided a new perspective, with teachers from Florence, who were able to give me invaluable insight to Italian culture. I am a Gender Studies major, and taking a class about gender roles in Italy was fascinating, because I had only ever learned about it from the perspective of American gender roles. Alongside that, the workload kept me engaged, without being too challenging, and taking away from my time enjoying the city. The only thing I regret about my abroad experience is leaving! CEA CAPA provided a wonderful cushion to put me at ease, while also giving me the tools to succeed on my own, and to truly make the best of the experience.

I studied as an art student in Florence for a month. It was the most incredible experience! It was a faculty-led program, so our professor would bring us to a new place everyday and let us draw and paint to our heart's content. We explored so many museums, cathedrals, and other monuments that were very easy to access and all within walking distance. The city felt very safe and I was never nervous to walk around alone. CEA Capa staff were so helpful in getting us settled and accustomed to the city. The housing was very nice and spacious and it was in the core of the city, so we never had to walk more than 20 minutes.
We did day trips to multiple other cities in Italy that were all just as beautiful, but Florence was the best place to live for an extended period of time. It was very easy to get comfortable there and I would definitely choose to do this program all over again!