Why did you choose this program?

I chose my program based on academics and excursions, along with cost of course. The main things I wanted to gain from a program were new experiences and credits that would transfer back to my home university. My program included 2 weekend trips plus day trips as well, and allowed me to visit new places. There were also many different courses offered which was a bonus.

What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

My program/university scheduled my classes for me, picked out my homestay, and gave me itineraries for all included trips. Once I arrived, I went to my class orientation where they gave out our syllabi and schedules. I also received housing information about a month before going on my trip from the program. I organized extra trips on my own, and I also took care of buying food I wasn't eating while in my homestay.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

I wish I had packed lighter. It is true you end up buying many items there and souvenirs. I was only gone for a month and came back with so much. I also think it's important to have an credit/debit card that works internationally but also have cash on hand. I exchanged money before my trip so once I was in Barcelona I already had euros on hand. I highly reccomend doing this at a local bank before you depart.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

I would wake up, have breakfast provided by my host mom, get ready and take the metro to class. I had two classes a day, four times a week. In between my classes I would go sight see or grab food depending on what I wanted to do. I then had my second class and after I would head home to unwind and I usually ate dinner at my homestay with my roommate. Many nights I would go grab tapas or drinks with friends I met on the program later in the evening too.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

My biggest fear was language usage. I study Spanish but have never been able to go in the "real world" and apply it. I knew being in a homestay would give me a lot of practice and it did. I also met other people from my building and talked to them as well. I think just putting yourself out there and trying is the best way to learn any skill but language especially.

Should I go on the provided trips/tours?

The answer is 100% yes. These were how I made friendships that lasted me the whole trip but also even after I left. They had a diverse range of activities ranging from museum tours, paella making, boating, and swimming in the sea. I loved traveling with my program because they also gave students the freedoms to do whatever they wanted in the evenings but also providing us with activities all day.

My favorite travel memory, hmmm. There are so many! The one that stands out specifically was the morning of my friend and my first weekend trip. With our bus leaving the station at 5am, we knew we had to get to the bus station and just assumed that we would be able to pick up a taxi on the road. Well, there were no taxis/colectivos to be seen. We lived close to a gas station and headed there to see if anyone could bring us. In a panic with the time pushing closer to 5, we were running out of options. One man pulled up in a van and when I asked him, panicked if he would bring us. He happened to be a security guard at the bus station and so we hopped into the back of his van. We realized at that time that he was our only option no matter how sketchy it was. Everything worked out for the best, but we made sure to always have a way to the bus station from then on!

I may be biased, but I would say that Valparaiso and Vina del Mar is the most underrated program here at ISA. The on site staff is amazing and there is so much to explore throughout the city! It's the perfect jumping off point to explore the rest of Chile, Patagonia, Argentina, and Peru. The most overrated program I would have to say Barcelona. Students get it stuck in their mind that they're just going to go abroad and party the whole time. Yes, that can be the case for some, but Barcelona is so much more than just partying. I can't say that the city itself is overrated, but the idea of this crazy party city is overrated.