This trip to Madrid was my first outside of the United States, and I am glad it was. The staff were super helpful and I felt as though I could go to them for any need or concern that I had and I would never be judged. The host family that I stayed with was wonderful, and the classes that I took were in-depth and offered perspectives that you can't just get from a classroom.

If there was one thing I wish I had known before I went, it was the amount of freedom that they give you. On paper, a lot of the trip seems very regulated, and it is to an extent. However, they give you and your friends a lot of free afternoons and evenings to explore the city and have fun. It really teaches you how to be independent, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

I have grown so much as a person and made lifelong friendships because of this program. I cannot recommend it enough. Thank you CIEE. When I left for Spain and I was super nervous but excited at the same time! When I arrived, at first there was a culture shock, and of course, jet lag. However, I soon settled in really quickly and felt like a part of the family. On the last day of the program, I was heartbroken. I couldn’t imagine my life without those around me anymore.

Thanks to CIEE and my wonderful host family, I spent a month fully immersing myself in a language and a culture completely foreign to myself. It was refreshing to be surrounded by like-minded students who also shared the same passion for language learning and were willing to succeed and fail with me. Through the moments that made me laugh and cry, I came away a far more open-minded, independent, and adventurous student than when I left.

Seville is a BEAUTIFUL city. You should definitely visit this historically and culturally rich place. My experience with CIEE was great overall. My needs were understood, and I was constantly challenged to step out of my comfort zone and improving my Spanish. The daily cultural activities were sometimes fun and useful and sometimes not. I enjoyed the cooking and dance classes the most. The weekend excursion to Granada was one of the best part of this whole experience. Through this program, I got to learn a lot about myself and the culture of Seville, Spain!

This program was amazing! We went on weekend excursions and night activities which were the best part. I distinctly remember the time we went paddle surfing. You will have to step out of your comfort zone but it is worth it! You will absolutely love every second of it. Studying abroad in another country is very eye opening and probably one of the best experiences that you will ever have. Amazing teachers from all over the world that have made an impact on me as a person. Not to mention the fact that my family host was amazing. If you have the opportunity to participate in this program then you should.

I'm going to make this short but living in Spain for a month is by far one of my favorite life experiences. The program was incredibly helpful with getting connected to a new culture and place. Learning the language was so much fun and inspiring and I still use Spanish almost everyday where I live. The housing was by far the best part. I'm still in touch with my host mom and will be visiting her when I return to Spain this summer. Overall the experience was great and life changing.

Incredible professors who really care about the students and their learning process, catered to each students level individually. Great staff, sometimes can seem a little tedious but that's just due to liability issues (they really don't care what you do). Only one student in my program had an issue with their host family, everyone loved their home stays including me. Also, such a great eclectic group of students, I will never forget them or my experience in Alicante :) and don't forget to TRAVEL!!!

It had its highs and lows but overall it was a really good experience. The trip had moments of being a very scary experience (getting lost in a big city, getting int a car accident, losing your phone) but it has also given me amazing experiences like meeting people in Sevilla, It has broadened my horizons, finding amazing new discoveries and helping me connect with people further than where I live