Incredible experience where you are guarantied to get out of your comfort zone
Dec 11, 2023
I really enjoyed the aspect of being in a country that has a very different culture to that of the US or Europe but still have the support I felt like I needed to be comfortable in that environment. It was an incredibly immersive experience where I made incredible friends and enjoyed myself greatly. San Jose is a rough city but once you get out into the country it is absolutely beautiful and the culture is incredibly welcoming and kind.
The amount of excursions in this area is astounding. You can go ziplining in the cloud forests of Monteverde, scuba diving in Puerto Viejo or anything in between!
What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Just say yes! If you are hesitating on whether to do or not do something just go for it.
Learning about Language and Life in Salamanca, Spain
Dec 11, 2023
I participated in a 6-month study abroad program in Salamanca, Spain where I took courses with the locals about topics related to my linguistics major. At first, I was terrified of leaving behind my seemingly perfect life in the US. But as soon as I arrived, I knew I had made the right choice.
Salamanca was a beautiful city that was very different from every other place I have lived. I stayed with a host family in a lovely apartment and although the language barrier was tricky in the beginning, the host mom quickly became my best friend. She helped me pick my outfits for school, she taught me how to cook some delicious meals, and she made my transition into a new culture fun and simple.
Over the course of my stay there, my Spanish language skills improved tremendously. I never thought I would become fluent, but after being surrounded by the language every day I started to think and even dream in Spanish. The coursework was definitely challenging but it was also incredibly interesting and the program staff was always available to help me. I felt like I learned more in my 6 months there than I had in my 5 years of studying Spanish in the US.
Not only did I grow academically from this trip but I also grew as a person. Living in a different country and having to adapt to a new culture expanded my mind in ways I wasn't expecting. I met amazing people from all over the world and I gained confidence that allowed me to take on challenges that I would have previously seen as too intimidating.
I had so much fun during my study abroad experience and I made so many best friends that I decided to spend the summer in Europe after my program ended. I traveled to almost all of the nearby countries and I began to see the world with a new perspective.
If I had the chance, I would do this all over again!
What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
The most unfamiliar thing I ate in Spain was jeta, which is roasted pork cheeks. I was nervous to try it at first because I could still see pig hair on some of the pieces! But my Spanish friends urged me to try a bite and I instantly fell in love with the crunchy, savory snack. I grew used to all of the other luxurious pork products in Spain, such as jamón ibérico, soon after that.
I decided to go abroad for a whole semester and didn’t really know a ton of people from my school going. Definitely was nervous and excited at first but ended up meeting so many friends and we still get together and go on trips! Barcelona is definitely the place to be, its beauty, nightlife, and culture is something everyone should experience. We also got to travel just about every weekend but loved our time in Barcelona so much! I wouldn’t be the person I am today with out experiencing a whole semester of learning, laughing and truly living. Best time of my life.
If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
Might be silly but I wouldn’t pack as much!! The shopping is amazing and in most areas cheaper. So instead of worrying and overpacking things I don’t need, I’d bring a half empty suitcase and just wait to see what I really end up needing.
And explore more of Barcelona and go up the coast of Spain!!
Pros
Meeting new friends
Amazing night life
Ability to travel for long weekend trips!
Cons
Wish I knew more about the city in the early weeks but thats what exploring is for
Losing a phone and the difficulty of getting a new one
It was simply the best time of my life. Finally got the opportunity to visit so many places in Europe. I got to learn & expand my knowledge of spanish as well. Being able to travel relatively cheaply is awesome as well. The BCN airport is super easy to get to & always has flights to anywhere. The schooling was great as well. Most of the professors speak great english & are super useful for anything! The Barcelona metro system is great as well. It really can get you anywhere. The tourist attractions in Barcelona are second to none.
If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
Make use of every minute of free time. Explore more.
I did a semester abroad with ISA after dreaming about living in Paris my entire life. Before arrival in Paris, I was assigned to an apartment with 5 other girls, which initially scared me because I didn’t know any of them and hadn’t chosen the apartment. Not only did they turn out to become best friends who I still talk to regularly, but the apartment was also beautiful & in a safe location!
I also loved the university, classes were interesting and challenging - but not too intense that I couldn’t go out & enjoy Paris + take time to travel.
When my time got cut short because of Covid, I was heartbroken, but there was nothing to be done - and I’m still incredibly grateful for the time I did get!
What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Put yourself out of your comfort zone, trust that everything will work out & that you’ll have the adventure of your life
Pros
Lots of social opportunities & planned trips / excursions
Good housing
Nice university
Cons
A bit pricey
Although housing was good, would’ve been nice to have a say in choosing my apartment
International Studies Abroad went over the top with my program. They felt like my far away-from-home family. The staff and the students were very supportive and friendly. Everyone was happy to be there and wanted to share whatever knowledge they had. Everything was planned out great and they were on top of everything. There isn't much at all I would recommend changing out the program. They were there for me and made sure I was having the best time I could be having. They were able to show us around the city and help get us settled in for our new life for the next 4 months.
What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
I was on a weekend trip to a small town in Germany called Hannover. I went to this restaurant where they had Kebaps. Which is a popular dish in Europe. Except everything on the menu was in German. I didn't know what anything was. So I decided to order the thing that had the longest name. And I'm not sure what it was, but it was the best food I have ever eaten in my life. It was like some kind of chili in a bowl with bread as the base. I don't even know how to describe it haha.
Pros
Made sure I was always doing alright
Gave plenty of notice before any event we did
Went out of their way to immerse us into the culture as much as possible
Cons
I wish they told me my host mom only spoke spanish
I wish I was kinda taught how to navigate the city
This program met all of my expectations for a study abroad and more! As somebody who does not speak french and has barely traveled Europe, I was extremely nervous about studying in Paris. However, ISA did a great job connecting everyone in the program which made it easy to make friends. They also held info sessions that contained all the information you will need for the semester, such as metro information, upcoming events, trendy restaurants and bars, and places to visit. The trips that ISA planned were the perfect balance of structured events and free time. I chose to live in an apartment that ISA arranged for me, and it had everything that I needed and was in a great location in the 11th arrondissement about 10 minutes from ABS. Also do not be too nervous about the language, as long as you put in some effort and show respect, you will be treated very nicely in Paris.
What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
My advice to travelers on this program is to not ignore the amount of things you can do in Paris, or even in France. It is popular to travel to different countries on the weekends, which you should do if you can afford it! France borders many amazing countries! But don't forget about France! There are amazing cities in France that are a quick train ride away. Not to mention Paris is a massive city that has thousands of different adventures awaiting. I would also advise future travelers to study french while in Paris. I had very little french speaking experience, and mostly practiced on different language apps before arriving. However, the schools will offer french classes and they really help you enrich your experience while living in Paris. My last piece of advice would be to save up! You won't need to spend much money in Paris and there are a ton of fun thrifting stores or cheap food options. However, the nightlife and travel can get expensive quick! Just plan ahead and you will be fine:)
Pros
Easy to make friends through the ISA excursions and meetings!
Getting to experience the city life!
Amazing museums and architecture.
Cons
Can get expensive:(
Transportation is excellent until there is a strike.
Excursion to Morocco was not offered my semester:(
As cliché as it sounds, my study abroad experience with ISA in Valencia this past summer was hands down the best thing I have ever done. Since I returned to the US in July, a day has not gone by where I don't wish I was still living in Spain. From the second it began, I was beyond happy with every aspect of the program and my life in Valencia, and ISA did a fantastic job facilitating everything. Not only did I meet some of my best friends (whether that be from my own college, other universities back in the states, or people who lived in Europe), the independence of living in a homestay allowed me to thrive independently and truly feel like a local. I was amazed to see how much 6 weeks abroad was able to broaden my horizons and allow me to try new foods, see new places, and be comfortable with being uncomfortable at times!
Aside from the social aspect, taking two courses at Centre d'Idiomes de la Universitat de València really expanded my educational experience and showed me a new way of teaching/learning I hadn't previously been exposed to. Being in class from 9-2 on Monday-Thursday didn't feel like a burden, and we were able to do plenty throughout the week still. All in all, I couldn't be more grateful for my study abroad trip and all it gave me, I definitely would say I'm a different person than when I left back in May and have learned exponentially more than I could've ever anticipated.
What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
On the front end of my trip, I decided to do a short solo-trip to Madrid before flying to Valencia to begin my program. As someone who had never left the country, I thought my several experiences traveling alone and my proficiency in Spanish would be enough to get me through the first 48 hours, but the culture shock was real! Upon landing in Madrid, I was shocked by how massive the airport was, and was certainly overwhelmed by the signs and directions. I checked into my hotel with over 24 hours of no sleep, then decided to go explore the city. I had absolutely no idea how to use public transportation such as the metro or buses, wasn't familiar with Euros as currency, and certainly wasn't used to being somewhere where nobody spoke English. I made it to downtown Madrid and spent the afternoon sightseeing, eating out, and trying not to get lost! I took the wrong train going home, and called my parents thousands of miles away in a panic. Looking back, despite the immense stress of my solo venture to Madrid, I feel as if it made me capable of traveling to any foreign country on my own in the future.
Pros
Way of life in Spain
Personal connections with new friends
Ability to use my spanish-speaking abilities in real life
Cons
Adjusting to schedule at homestay (different meal times, etc)
6+ hour time difference with friends/family back in the states
Lengthy classes (2.5 hours) with minimal breaks between
My study abroad experience was the most incredible 4 months of my life! Barcelona is a beautiful, electric city full of culture, amazing food, beautiful beaches, and more. I got to learn a lot about international business and Spanish/Mediterranean culture through school, which has become a big talking point for me in post-grad job interviews. I was able to travel to so many cool places in Spain, as well as several other countries. I even got to go to Morocco with our program, where we camped in the Sahara desert and rode camels. And most importantly, I met the most amazing people I still talk to daily and continue to travel with. Study abroad in Barcelona- you won't regret it!
What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Take advantage of everything living abroad has to offer!! Try new foods, travel as much as you can, and remember- you can sleep when you're dead! You'll only regret the chances you don't take.
Studying abroad was truly one of the most incredible experiences of my life. I had never felt so excited about my life and engaged in what I was learning. It was an experience that made me learn so much about who I am and what I wanted to do with my life. I made friends that I will have for a lifetime and found a mentor who has helped me find my path. Studying abroad opened doors for more opportunities in the US as well. After studying at FUA Apicius I was granted an incredible opportunity to do a program in New York City cooking for the James Beard foundation. The ISA blog program also gave me experience in my field of digital media. I cannot think of a more valuable incredible time of my life and I cannot wait for the day I return to Florence. I now plan to study for a whole semester in Spain to continue the incredible experiences and learn more about the world.
