I absolutely loved my experience abroad with ASA (Academic Studies Abroad). I was between a few different locations, and I would not have wanted my time abroad to go any other way. Once I arrived in Seville, it felt like a long road until I was going to go home. As I was leaving Seville, it felt like a long road until I was going to be back in Seville. It completely transformed my thought process on living away from home and making elsewhere home to me. As a Jet setter, a program with ASA that allows students to reflect weekly on their time, absolutely helped me slow down and see my world day by day. Reflecting after a long week was a great part of my experience, for it was something I never really did before. The Jet setter program allowed me to do this! The staff with ASA was extremely friendly and helpful in my adjustment, as I was very vocal of my struggles. They are a major part of the reason why I was able to stay, and once I settled in, it became the best experience of my life.

I studied abroad in Barcelona with Academic Studies Abroad spring semester. My entire experience from beginning to end was unforgettable and something I will cherish for the rest of my life. This was my first time leaving the country, so naturally, I felt overwhelmed about what was to come. However, thanks to the support from ASA and the incredible friends I made in my program, I was able to adjust to life in Barcelona comfortably.

From the moment I arrived, I fell in love with everything the city had to offer. Between the culture, people, food, and stunning sites, I was truly mesmerized. I was also fortunate to study at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, located within walking distance to where I lived. The university offered a variety of academic courses that transferred to my home institution, as well as unique ones like Great Art Collections, which deepened my appreciation for Spain’s history.

If you have the opportunity to study abroad, Barcelona is the perfect home base for student travelers. And even if you choose another destination, I highly recommend visiting because it is one of the most magical places you’ll ever experience. I grew tremendously from my time there and cannot wait to visit again in the future!

In Spring of 2025, I studied abroad in Sevilla Spain with ASA Study Abroad. During my time abroad I took part of the jetsetter program where I was given tasks that helped me think deeper and be more reflective of my time abroad. During my time abroad I could not have had a better time. The host family I stayed with helped when it came immersing myself in their culture like cuisines, siesta, meal times, holidays, etc.

ASA provided a wonderful program which enhanced the experience through program events, kind-hearted people that were there for you every step of the way and proved a safe space. Truly am so lucky to have had such an amazing experience and encourage others to pursue study abroad. My one piece of advice would be to go beyond bars and coffee shops but attend local events that interest you and align with your hobbies. That is what I did and spent time playing fun board and deduction games with the locals.

Studying abroad in Seville Spain was a very enjoyable four months for me. Spain is a country with a unique culture and Seville is a great city to go to experience this culture. The city is beautiful, clean, and the weather is very nice. Going abroad with ASA made the process of going abroad seamless, and participating in their jetsetter program allowed me to reflect on my experiences and make the most out of my time in Seville. The University that I attended while I was there, UPO, had a great class selection and offered several classes that I could count toward my major at my home institution. This was another thing that made it so feasible for myself to go abroad. If you are thinking about going abroad just know that it is very possible, and Seville is a great city to study in.

As I reflect on my time abroad, the one place I was grateful to be able to spend most of my time and call my home base was Barcelona. There’s nothing I didn’t love about this city. The people I met, the food and drinks I tried, the things I learned in and out of the classroom, and every place I saw from a popular landmark to a narrow street in the Gothic Quarter, made this semester a truly life changing experience for me.

For anyone unsure of where they want to study abroad, Barcelona is definitely the place for you. You will never forget this city and all of the life that it has no matter where you go. To the small group of students who studied with ASA in Barcelona, thank you so much for all the wonderful memories I had the chance to share with you. To my roommates of Carrer de Rosellò 436, thank you for being there for me in every possible way. I could not have asked for better people to live and explore Europe with. To Marta and Richard, thank you for everything you did for us: from taking us on day trips and weekend excursions to showing us the beautiful city you call home. You both helped me in more ways than you know. The comfort of knowing I always had someone to talk to if I needed it made the whole experience that much better.

Now that I have been back in the U.S. for some time, I have had the chance to really reflect on this unforgettable experience, and realize how lucky I was to be able to study with Academic Studies Abroad.

My semester spent in Seville, Spain was without a doubt the best four months of my life. For starters, the city of Seville is beautiful. There is so much history and culture around each and every corner. While it is a place that a lot of tourists tend to visit, the locals do an amazing job at preserving the rich Spanish culture through language, cuisine, traditions, etc.. This allowed me to truly immerse myself, which is one of the reasons that I was so happy that I chose Seville. One of my favorite experiences that I had while I was away was participating in Feria de Abril, a cultural festival that happens every year for a week in Los Remedios, a neighborhood just on the outskirts of center city. It was so incredible seeing the Sevillanas get dressed up each day in flamenco dresses and suits and celebrating with all of their loved ones.

ASA was amazing! The communication both leading up to departure as well as through my trip was incredible. Katia was my ASA contact on campus and she would answer every email so throughly and almost always within an hour. Once I was in Italy, Chiara was my advisor and she was also incredible. She was constantly availible for any need and was extremely kind. She would help with anything from questions about travel to taking you to the doctors if you were sick. ASA was committed to taking care of their students well being and helping Florence feel like home.

I was very nervous about the trip originally. I had never travelled alone to another country before. However, I was not alone. I had my family and friends back home. I had the support of my on-site ASA advisor, as well as my host mom and some other students who were also studying abroad at the same time. All of these people helped me to enjoy my time in Chile. Things that helped me to enjoy my semester outside of academics included going to weekly in-person therapy (my ASA advisor recommended me to a local, English-speaking therapist), going on hikes and exploring the city either alone, with friends, or through the university, and putting myself out there to try new things.

Of course, there were some challenges. I had to juggle academics with my interest in exploring the rest of the country. I also had some challenges with some of the other study abroad students (classic college drama), but I was able to work through these, though my therapist and even my host mom helped support me. In terms of safety, I had no issues until the day of my flight back to the U.S., when my wallet got stolen. Just my wallet, I still had my passport and phone.

All in all, I had an amazing time. I even met my current boyfriend there. So, if anyone is on the fence about studying abroad, I say go for it! You will not regret it.