Spain: Alicante - Spanish Language, Linguistics, European, and Gender Studies

At first, I had issues with the customer service in Spain - it is downright awful. The people in Spain tend to be more straightforward and cold, but then you realize you don't have to do things like leave a tip ever and it is more apparent why. They are very proud people which for me was an issue being the descendant of indigenous people who were oppressed and killed by the Spanish. You will see no recognition of that genocide caused by Spain but that is more pertinent to Latin American people for those who care about those matters. They WILL think your spanish is funny if you are a native speaker from another country, but for the most part I saw much more respect for other races than I do in the US. They are not as modern in Spain like in the US but very sustainable nonetheless. Their transportation system is incredible. There is a tram that goes everywhere and a bus. You can also walk almost everywhere- it is amazing. The city is one of the safest cities I have EVER been in. My roommates and I go out to parties, come back home late, and never felt in danger. It is a very laid-back, liberal city, and despite some rude people- the lifestyle they have makes you never want to leave! I traveled a good amount on weekends to other countries and truly grew attached to Alicante. I honestly feel like it is my second home. I would always miss it, even on weekends. I love how close the beach is, the clubs overlook the water, there are always great deals so it is also very cheap!!! I was very undecided between studying in Madrid, San Sebastian, or Alicante and I am so glad I chose Alicante. If you are into very big cities, then Alicante is not for you. It does not have a big city feel in my opinion, but it has everything you need. Big shopping malls, nice clubs (although not crazy ones like Barcelona obviously), a really clean beach, a beautiful view of a castle, great restaurants, and an amazing lifestyle. I learned to go party every single night and still went to school the next day. People don't drink the way Americans do, drinking is purely social. I thought it would be crazy and at times it was, but for the most part I think Spanish people just know that going out and being outside is crucial for happiness and being social! There is never an excess of drinking or being crazy. I really love it. There is no better place to be as a young person than Alicante! Also, the advisers at USAC will go OUT of their way to help you. They are truly amazing. Luis especially. The classes offered at USAC were challenging but fun, and you will learn much more than Spanish. The professors were so well rounded and always talked about current events, and so much more than the topics in class which were equally educational. Europeans are just so much more well rounded than Americans. They were also very supportive of our weekend travels and always had good advice. I will always carry this time period as the best time of my life. I hope to return very soon!

I just finished my semester abroad in Alicante using the USAC study abroad program. This program is supportive of you from day one when you decide you want to do study abroad. Your advisors in Nevada are fantastic and go the extra mile to make sure you are ready and prepared for going to study across seas. Once you get to Alicante or wherever you are going the support continues on. In Alicante, the staff there are very nice people, and want you to succeed and have a great time. I had a fantastic professor named Lordes. She really cares about her students and has a passion about them learning Spanish. If you are ever struggling she is more than happy to spend time with you outside of class to help you improve. The program offers so many fun field trips and events so you can get to know other USAC students. The housing I was provided was perfect for me. I asked to not live with USACs students. I wanted that arrangement so that I could have both friends from USAC and friends from other places in the world. I lived with 2 British , 1 Malaysian, 1 Polish, and 1 Spanish roommate(s). This opened me up to new cultures and amazing new friendships. I was living with Erasmus students. Having Erasmus roommates allowed me to make friends from all over Europe and learn about different cultures and ideas. I recommend you bond with USAC students, but also make time for making friends with locals and people who are not American. I strongly recommend doing the Intercambio program. This allowed me to be paired up with a Spanish local that wants to learns English just as much as I want to learn Spanish. We helped each other improve in our language skills. My intercambio became a good friend of mine. Lastly, I know many of you will want to explore the other surrounding countries which is great, however do take time to get to know the beautiful city of Alicante or wherever you go, and also explore many cities of your host country as well. My time in Madrid was so magical. Toledo is also a very interesting city to see. If you are studying in Spain during the fall semester you may want to visit Zaragoza in October and observe and participate in the Fiesta del Pillar. I was lucky to have a Spanish friend from Zaragoza who took me to her home in Zaragoza and introduce to me this annual week long party and celebration there. Enjoy your time abroad and savor each moment. The time goes fast because the experience is amazing.

I studied abroad with USAC in Alicante last summer. I was 26 wih a Masters and was my first time studying abroad and first time spending an extended amount of time in a foreign country. I was going with the goal of taking a graduate level course and learning a bit of Spanish along the way. The USAC program helped me achieve these goals and so much more. My professor for Spanish Gender Studies (Pilar) was one of the best professors I've ever had. She cares so deeply about the subject, her students, and education in general. She helped me tailor my research paper to be relevant to the course, my interests, and my job, and she was an invaluable resource throughout the project. I decided to audit an intermediate Spanish course as well, and had a wonderful professor (Paloma) who understood that I was a beginner and challenged me to learn as much as possible in our short four week course. I did spend a lot of time Monday through Fridays on campus at UA , but I don't think that got in my way of spending time with my apartment mates , going out for tapas, salsa dancing, shopping, to bars , museums, and playa posiguet. I had an intercambio who I still keep in touch with, and went on a few awesome excursions led by the incredible director, Luis. In the short 4 weeks of this summer program, I made long term friends, learned about The history and role of women in Spain, aprendí un poquito de la lengua, explored parts of Spain I never would have seen on my own, lived in downtown Alicante, and had an overall amazing time.

I LOVED living in Alicante. Even though it was winter, it never went below 60 and was sunny everyday. Friends and I traveled to Barcelona one weekend as well. The Resident Director was so friendly and helpful!

There is a local market where you can buy fresh groceries and the sellers are so kind and happy to help teach spanish. I lived a 5 minute walk from the beach and in the center of downtown. Everything is centrally located and I could easily see the entire city in a day. You can take the metro to school with a pass. Living here is really cheap compared to many parts of Europe. In USAC, the staff is great and will help at anytime with anything. They set me up with housing, roommates, and a job. When my boyfriend hurt himself riding his bike they took him to the ER with no questions asked. Everyone was so welcoming and I don't regret a single day.

My session was short; classes were small and teachers did not follow the syllabi but instead changed lesson plans to focus on our weaknesses. I learned more in 5 weeks there than in any of my classes back in the US.

The host family I was placed with absorbed me into their family right away. I felt extremely welcomed, included, and loved. I was terrified to move to another country and live with strangers but my house mom was more accepting and helpful than I could have dreamt of.

The program offered multiple weekend field trips to nearby cities in a very short time frame. This program was well rounded; I feel like they were able to share every aspect of Spanish life with us in every way imaginable (through trips, food, class structure, housing, etc).

My experience in Alicante changed something in me; I have realized how much I do not know about other cultures and how much more I want to learn. Because of this program, I have returned to Spain and am working as a language assistant in Palma de Mallorca. I had to find a way to come back and I am not sure I ever want to go home!

My time studying abroad was everything I had wished for, a good host family, great classes, amazing program directors, and good people. My best tip would be to live with a host family in your city and have an open mind - especially with meeting the locals.

Everyday riding the bus to school, to becoming a spanish college student, to being an independent women in this new city of Alicante. This experience USAC provided me with was a never ending learning and life changing experience. I not only grew as a person, but was a ble to fully embrace another culture with the means USAC thoughtfully provided me with. The was endless possibilities, opportunities, and experiences that were handed to me and was really able to take it all in mentally, physically, emotionally. I am still liberated off this life changing opportunity I am so grateful to have had. Being a college student with little means to be able to travel overseas, USAC made it happen. The Staff, the USAC Community, the entire organization made one my life long dreams come true. If it wasn't for their constant support, kind advise, and willingness to work with your financial situations, I wouldn't be on here to express my gratitude. So thank you USAC, I 100% support all that you do. Thank You.