Why did you pick this program?
I picked this program because it was highly recommended by my university. The more I explored this program online, I quickly concluded this would be the perfect program for me. I loved all the excursions it included along with ways to become involved within the city in which we reside while abroad.
What do you tell your friends who are thinking about going abroad?
I tell my friends that they NEED to embark on this experience. It is an opportunity of a lifetime where you truly are able to immerse yourself into an unfamiliar culture. By the end of the experience, you will not only know about the culture of the country you're visiting, but also you will learn about yourself and see your own personal growth.
What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?
One piece of advice I would give would be to embark on every opportunity possible. Although, you may be tired by the end of the semester, it will all be worth it looking back at it. Also, I would suggest to travel in small groups rather than large ones. This way, you can strategically plan what you want to see and it is easier to satisfy everyone's interests when there are 3 people rather than 8 people.
What's your favorite story to tell about your time abroad?
I have two favorite stories, the first was especially appealing to me because I am a huge soccer fanatic. I have grown up playing my entire life and idolized the players such as Messi on FC Barcelona. It just so happened that FC Granada was playing FC Barcelona in Granada. It was during Semana Santa or Holy week so my parents were there to visit. We were able to get 8th row seats and see FC Granada beat FC Barcelona 1-0. It was incredible to see the underdogs take down such a powerhouse while also seeing the players I have watched growing up right in front of my eyes.
My second favorite story is when we went to Morocco, Africa and were able to ride camels. The path we rode the camels on was right next to the Atlantic Ocean and it was simply breath taking. We were able to ride on the full grown camels although, there were also newborn camels. They were the absolute cutest things in the world! I am extremely lucky to have experienced a different culture, along with being able to participate in such an unique excursion.
How was the homestay experience?
I absolutely adored my host family. I had a host mother and a host father who had three grown children that did not live in the house however, they would visit on the weekends. My host mom made the best food and it was always prepared right when I finished classes or came home from being with friends.
Every weekend, my host mom would clean my room and wash all of my laundry. At first, I felt strange allowing her to do this because I would complete these chores at my house on my own. However, she insisted that she could do it and truly loved putting others at ease and making them feel at home.
I was able to bond with my youngest host brother the most. He was the closest to my age and had studied abroad in England. This really helped because if I did not understand a word my host parents were trying to communicate, I could turn to him and he would help to explain it. He would also show my friends and I places to go around town when we first arrived so we knew the best restaurants, bars, and clubs.
I absolutely loved my homestay. They made me feel right at home and treated me as if I was their own daughter. I still keep in contact with my host mom to this day and it has been two years since I studied abroad. It was a perfect way to fully immerse myself in the culture and the language.