Why did you choose this program?
I had never been abroad before, but because I really found the Spanish language interesting, I felt that the ISA program in Sevilla would be a fun experience to really push myself into a new environment. Additionally, I’m a pre-med student, and finding opportunities abroad is a bit difficult considering my course-load. But, the history course taught by ISA in Spain perfectly fit my schedule and counted for a core requirement. I was able to both get a class out of the way but also enjoy my time somewhere different and extremely beautiful.
What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?
My university helped me out with getting initial paperwork done like the submission of the essays and passport information, and then getting me in contact with ISA so I can complete their separate application. My university also offered advice on the best flights to take and ISA introduced me to StudentUniverse which gave me a discounted flight and had me in contact with an agent to book my flight. I ended up also getting in contact with fellow students on the same program through my university’s study abroad office. That helped me plan a group flight and really made the whole getting there and back experience much smoother. I thankfully had no need for a visa at the time, but I was still given adequate information and all I really needed to do was complete what the ISA application asked for in terms of passport documents, personal preferences (roommates, allergies, etc.), and enrolling in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) in case of any emergencies abroad. ISA also offered me a lot of information on what to expect in terms of culture, how to stay safe, what was best to pack, and so on!
What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?
I’d tell them to take more pictures. It sounds silly, but I do recommend being able to really capture the moments there and more importantly your actual self there. It makes the memories really stick and is a wonderful souvenir to look back on.
Possibly bringing a camera just for pictures or making sure you have storage on your phone for videos and pictures would be perfect. Also don't be afraid to take selfies or ask someone to take a picture of you. You're going to love looking back at them the moment you return home.
What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?
Each day was honestly exciting and productive. For me, I’d start my day early, say around 6 or 7 am. I’d get ready, make myself breakfast or head outside to grab something by whatever cafe is open. Then I’d head to class which started I believe at 8-8:30 am. I’d have class for a few hours, then a break where I’d go out to lunch or we’d have an excursion planned. Then we’d have a few more hours of class, and sometimes another activity like dancing salsa or cooking paella. And then I’d be off to hang out with my friends, take a stroll around the city, shop for clothes, souvenirs, or groceries and just enjoy myself. Whenever an exam was coming up, everyone would be upstairs by the study area taking notes and reviewing. Otherwise, everything was very relaxed.
Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?
I was very scared of being somewhere new and even more scared of being alone somewhere new. My feelings overwhelmed me and mixed with homesickness, and I found that the only way for me to process those feelings was to journal. I wrote down how I felt, and then I began to think to myself that I came here because I wanted to enjoy myself and this new place. So, I put more effort into reaching out to my classmates there and eventually I got closer to them as we explored and navigated this new experience together. Soon enough, I had completely fallen in love with Sevilla and felt that the people I met there were a happy part of my life. Despite the distance and the fact that we may never meet again in those same circumstances, I look back fondly on my time there.
What’s something about your experience abroad that you didn’t expect but you ended up loving?
Something unique to Spain were all the orange and lemon trees on every street. I’d never seen fruit trees like that in the states, so I’d just loved walking through the streets in the early hours of the morning and afternoon and admiring all the colorful fruit. They made Sevilla feel so much cozier, and sometimes I wish I’d see trees like that back here too.
I also loved walking over to el Parque de María Luisa and feeding the birds, especially the ducks. They were beautiful and really helped relax me by just watching them.
