Live In The Moment

There is something incredibly serene about waking up and walking in the cool of the Sevillian summer mornings and drinking a coffee on the river. I was always a person to keep to a routine and found something as simple as that capable of keeping me sane during what was one of the most fun and adventurous summers of my life.
I engaged with as many locals as I could, especially my host mom, Josefa, in order to learn more about the specific culture and accent of Sevilla. ISA helped facilitate interactions and experiences with the community, which strengthened our ties and memories in the city.
It was difficult to get into the swing of things at first, but as the program sped up and drew to a close, I realized how applicable "Carpe Diem" was. It helped me get over any worry, hesitation, or fear that I had because #YOSO (You Only Sevilla Once). Which will hopefully end up being untrue because I love Sevilla and definitely want to return.
The amount of personal growth a person goes through when studying abroad is mind-boggling. I developed more in my core values, beliefs and critical thinking because I was put in situations that necessitated me doing something.
My highlights would be the weekend trips that we would go on. We went to Tarifa, Spain and Lagos, Portugal and both were incredible. It was a small group of us on both trips and it led to greater bonding and sweeter memories.
There is truly nothing like an immersion program to help you lose yourself in a foreign world. But when you find yourself again, back in your home country, you can see that you are a new and greater person for having lived every moment.