AIFS Study Abroad in Salamanca, Spain: Semester or Academic Year

I knew that studying abroad was a once in a lifetime opportunity. I wanted to make sure that my trip to Spain was a smooth transition there and that when I returned back to my campus in the spring I was still on track to graduate. AIFS did that and so much. I loved that I could play an active role in choosing courses that I was interested in. I was also thrilled that AIFS prepared me mentally with resources that made me feel at ease (packing list, SIM card options, etc.) While I was abroad, I had an experience like none other. Gaye and Julia treated me like family and when I needed them they were always there to make sure I had what I needed even on days when I was super super homesick. They let us have our freedom and experience around us but were still there to provide support. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about my time in Spain and how much this trip changed and impacted me. It is definitely the highlight of not just my college matriculation but my life. The professors were outstanding, the city was beautiful and rich with culture and history. On days that I was homesick one of my greatest memories was going to get frozen yogurt and just sitting outside in the plaza or roam around the city to explore an area I hadn't been. The apartment I stayed in was literally steps away from the plaza and I enjoyed having the option to cook for myself because I am very finicky about food. Of course nothing was perfect, but even on bad days, I wouldn't have traded this opportunity for anything. As an African-American studying abroad was a priority for me. I wanted to travel and engage with a different culture and see what the world was like for myself. I wrote several blogs about my time in Salamanca (head over to AIFS

My experiences with AIFS in Salamanca were amazing and unforgettable. Before I left, I received advising every step of the way from the adviser for Spain. When I got to Spain the on site AIFS staff showed everyone in our program around Salamanca, took us to dinner, engaged us in cultural activities, and introduced us to our host families. After the first two weeks I knew that I would miss Spain more than anything because of the incredible experiences that AIFS provided to me. I was practiced Spanish all the time, I took cooking classes, I went on excursions throughout Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, and I engaged in all of my classes. I wish that I would have stayed for a full year rather than only a semester.

My semester in Salamanca was hands down the best semester I've had in college! AIFS was very supportive throughout the entire application process. They answered all my questions via email right away and with very detailed answers to my questions. Also, the AIFS staff in Salamanca always welcomed us into their office. I would go after my classes to ask questions or just to chat. AIFS also provided great host families. My experience was phenomenal and I truly believe I gained a second family in Spain. We still keep in touch and I look forward to visiting them next time I'm in Spain. Salamanca is known as a university city and therefore, I was able to meet a lot of both Spanish and international students around my age. I always felt safe in the city, even at night.

Studying abroad in Salamanca through AIFS provided me with a spectacular experience. Not only did the staff do a great job of providing you with a wonderful home stay, but they were always there to help. If you were sick, had a general question, or just even wanted to chat you could always feel comfortable asking the staff. The program allowed for an easy transition from living in the US to the life in Spain by constantly having events and involving you in the culture. If I could go back, I would have no doubt in my mind that this program would be my selection. By the end of the semester, I am sure that you too will feel Salamanca is your home.

Salamanca was the best city in Spain to live and study. It was small enough that you didn't have to take a taxi between destinations. This opportunity to walk everywhere helped me to truly get to know the city better. At the same time, I never felt confined or bored. There was always an opportunity to find something new. The AIFS program also provided fun, interactive activities that familiarized you with Salamanca. Whenever questions or concerns arouse I always felt welcome to go to the AIFS staff who were consistently open and helpful.

Salamanca is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful cities in Spain. I loved walking around the city to explore. My favorite place was Plaza Mayor. My friends and I would go hang out there and people watch. I could not have asked for a better place to spend 4 and a half months.

This program is incredible. Salamanca is an incredible city, small enough to be able to know the city in a semester but big enough to never get bored. I recommend it to everyone. And the AIFS program was great. All the trips were so much fun and Gaye and Julua, the program directors, are incredibly helpful!

Whenever people ask me where I studied abroad in Spain, it always saddens me that most have never heard of the wonderful city of Salamanca. The experience I had in Salamanca with AIFS was amazing. The staff from AIFS are warm and always keeping you up to date on what's going on. I highly recommend taking the AIFS only classes at the university, especially the writing course, because I found them more challenging and rewarding than the regular classes the university offered. The town itself is wonderful, very easy to navigate and has lots to explore. I stayed at a homestay and loved my senora immensely, I grew close to her wonderful family who visited every weekend and she cooked amazing food! I really liked that there were so many excursions already included in our AIFS package, because I didn't have the resources to travel as much as others did on the weekends. Another thing I recommend is to take the opportunity to get involved with the people in Salamanca, for example with the help of the AIFS staff I joined a local church choir and also volunteered at a school nearby twice a day. I also used a recommended website from the staff to arrange intercambios with local Spanish students-it's totally terrifying at first, but really worth the extra practice! Ultimately, this experience was really worth it and I highly recommend it.

I loved my Spanish professor, I loved spending time with my new friends in the Plaza Mayor, and I loved getting to see more of Spain and Portugal! Salamanca is full of things to love.

In the morning I would wake up to Nutella and toast with juice that my senora had left out. I would then go to classes with students from all over the world. My teachers were great and loved hearing about all of our experiences in Europe. At 2pm it was lunch time! Lunch is the biggest meal in Spain and we had delicious food. After lunch I took a traditional siesta and then went to another class. I did not have afternoon classes on Wednesdays so I would go to teach 5 and 6 year olds English. After dinner at 9:30pm I would get ready and go to the plaza to meet friends at midnight. We would hangout for awhile and then venture on to the bars to experience the nightlife. The next day my senora would ask me all about my night and we would laugh about what had happened.
Whenever I left for trips on the weekends my senora would give me a doblebeso goodbye and also give me a bocadilla for the trip. When I returned home she got so happy and we would immediately sit down and rehash my trip and see what things we both had did at that city!
The only thing that was difficult was the two hour ride to the airport for trips but it was fun with friends and my senora packed me snacks!

Studying in Salamanca marked a very special point in my life. The months I spent there did not only help me realize of how much I love Spanish, but it made me fall in love with the culture and people of Spain!
I found that classes can be as challenging as you want them to be, you just have to find the right balance and not be afraid to expose yourself to the language.
One of the great opportunities of living here is that you meet people from all over the world. I was lucky enough to choose a large host family, and ended up with friends from all over. Within the 3 years after this experience ended our close group has been fortunate enough to meet twice across the globe.
Salamanca is close enough to anywhere you want to go, and the people are very friendly. If your thinking on going there, just do it! You won't regret it.

Studying abroad in Salamanca, Spain was one of the best times in my life. The city, the culture, the people, everything there is amazing. You learn so much more about the world and about yourself by having this experience. I highly recommend this program to anyone interested in studying abroad.

This program helped me better learn Spanish, become acquainted with Spanish culture, and so much more. It was incredibly planned and living with my host family was the best experience I could have ever imagined. The only thing that would have made it better would have been if we could have somehow gotten the fellow program students to speak in Spanish for the duration of the study abroad. While it was great to learn and speak Spanish with natives in Salamanca and in class, the American program students would speak English with one another during program events. Other than that, this study abroad was phenomenal.

My time in Salamanca was life-changing. I lived with a host family that I keep in touch with today (4 years later) and have gone back to visit. It was such a privilege to be able to study at one of the oldest universities in Europe.

Through making friends in Salamanca, my classes at the university, and my time spent with the host family, my Spanish skills greatly improved.

I made lasting friendships and lifelong memories. I would encourage everyone to go!

I think that to be completely honest I think anyone going to Salamanca is going to have an amazing time no matter what program the go with. But I have had such an amazing time with AIFS. The staff is always helpful and take us on trips or give little perks like taking us out to tapas or chocolate con churros. But apart from the program Salamanca is still one of the best places I have ever been. Walking around the city I feel surrounded by culture and history. I walk through the plaza (which is said to be one of the most beautiful in the world...no joke) and I have to make myself stop and realize that although I walk though every day it is still amazing and beautiful and I need to take it all in. I only have about a month and a half left and I hate to think that on May 18 I will be leaving and I don't know when I'll be back. I want time to stop in this moment because at this moment I can't think of a better place to be.