API: Experience Seville, Spain (Scholarships Available)

I studied in Sevilla, Spain with API for the entire 2010-2011 academic year. It was the best decision I have ever made.

There are a plethora of programs in Sevilla. Was I happy with my decision? YES. After getting to know students in all different types of programs, I was so happy to have chosen API. Somehow API is more affordable than most programs, yet they still offer the most excursions... including international ones! I traveled with API to many different areas of Spain. Some of my favorite were tiny little towns I never would have discovered on my own. We also went to Paris, France and Marrakech, Morocco! The excursions had just the right amount of planned activities and free time.

Travel was great, but my best memories are probably from Sevilla itself. I lived with an adorable young family. My host mom was an actress, so I had the opportunity to go to several theatrical events in the city as well as watch Spanish movies with her. I had adorable younger host sisters who we would play games with. I had American roommates who are now some of my best friends. No worries though, we had no problems making Spanish friends. We would go to their house and teach them American games, etc, and they would teach us how to cook Spanish and Moroccan food. Keeping in touch with them has really been important for my retention of my Spanish.

Sevilla is the perfect size. It is large enough to have infinite exploration possibilities, but it is small enough to walk everywhere you want to go. Each neighborhood in Sevilla has a completely distinct atmosphere, so there are places for everyone. Each night of the week you could go to a different area. I greatly miss Sevilla's food! Tapa hopping was definitely a favorite activity.

The University of Sevilla is lovely. The building itself is hundreds of years old. I mostly took Spanish culture classes like the history of flamenco and art from Andalucia. While I definitely think my classes improved my Spanish skills, I must admit there was minimal work involved. My grades mostly consisted of a mid term, a final, and maybe one large project of paper. Other than that, there was minimal work outside of class.

All year in Sevilla I heard talk of the spring festivals, Semana Santa and Feria de Abril, or Holy Week and the April Fair. I thought my time in Sevilla couldn't get any better... but it did. Semana Santa was a really touching religious and cultural experience. Sevilla is known throughout the world for the processions of church altars throughout the city. After this week of solemnity and devotion, the April Fair begins. Feria was probably the best week of my life. A special area of the city transforms into a village of large tents with bars and dancefloors, called casetas. The other half is a full blown carnival with food and rides. The streets are filled with horses and carriages. You spend all day and night there. My favorite part is the clothing... The men dress up in suits, and the women wear flamenco dresses! It is such a part of their culture that in the winter there is even a flamenco fashion exhibition in Sevilla preparing for Feria.

My year in Sevilla was a fantastic experience from which I gained infinite memories and friendships. I can't recommend it enough!

Studying abroad was the best decision I ever made and API was the best program I could have asked for! The program directors were so helpful and accommodating. They were awesome. Our group was small (40-45 people) compared to other study abroad programs like CEA and CIEE (1,000+), which was nice because you got to know everyone.

Classes were at la Universidad de Sevilla with all the other study abroad programs. Some were easier than others, but they were all spoken in Spanish. The workload was a lot easier than in the states and the exams weren't too bad either. It also helps to sign up or find an intercambio to practice speaking Spanish with. That helped me a lot.

API had a lot of excursions compared to the other programs and cost less. We went to Madrid, El Escorial, Toledo, Cádiz, Jerez de la Frontera, Doñana, Extremadura, and Morocco. (I might be forgetting some!)

I would highly recommend living with a host family, because that's the best way to practice the language! Plus, you get to have authentic Spanish meals every day, which were amazing!

There was a lot to do at night, as far as the social scene. There are a lot of bars along Calle Bétis, although it gets a little touristy. If you're looking for where all the Spaniards go, head to Alfalfa. I also recommend going on a tapas crawl. My friends and I went through a hostel that was hosting one and had a lot of fun. There were a lot of places we got to see in Sevilla that we didn't have a chance to experience before.

Sevilla is also the best place to be during Semana Santa (Holy Week) and you have to go to Féria! If your host family or someone you know has their own private caseta, that is the best way to enjoy Féria, but you can still have fun in the public casetas.

Overall, I would definitely study abroad with API again! It was the best decision I ever made.

Choosing API as opposed to another program was the best decision I made when I decided to study abroad. The program has academic options for students of all levels, the staff on site as well as back home were always extremely supportive and accommodating, and the best part was we got to go on so many excursions and cultural activities throughout the city, country, and even internationally! AND the total program fee costs less than other programs that offered fewer excursions and amenities. The city of Seville is a beautiful place that is not too large but definitely not too small--you will never get bored but you will feel like you know the city like it is your home by the end of your stay, if not sooner. Across the board at the University of Seville, academics are very manageable and allow for a lot of free time that you will want so you can take advantage of all aspects of the city, traveling, and being abroad in general. Definitely a great program all around.