AIFS Abroad: Study Abroad in Spain

In January 2009, I packed my bags and started my 5 month life-changing adventure. Through AIFS,you first spend a few days in London with the other members of your group and then all travel together to Granada, Spain. For the first few weeks, we took intensive Spanish courses (very helpful since I knew basically zero Spanish), and then started our normal courses. We never had class on Friday which made it easy to travel on the weekends. Also, I chose to live in a homestay which I highly, highly recommend.
Overall, studying abroad in Granada, Spain was probably the best decision of my life. I learned so much about myself, Spanish culture, the Spanish language,and had the opportunity to travel all over Europe. During my time in Granada through AIFS, I made some incredible friends from all over the United States. In fact, in December 2011, we had a reunion in New York, and this May we are reuniting once again in Las Vegas.
AIFS is a fantastic program. I highly recommend you study abroad with them! Now that I have graduated college and am working full-time, I regularly reflect back upon my time in Granada as the best experience of my life.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I arrived in Salamanca... But what I got couldn't have been better. With classes in the mornings (with coffee breaks, of course) we had the afternoons free everyday. Meeting up with friends for leisurely walks, grabbing ice cream in the plaza, and endless conversations never got old. On days we felt more tourist-y we would visit the convent, cathedral, or university library. A never ending supply of places to go and things to see. I wouldn't change a thing about Salamanca. Sure, their accent may take a while, but every single person I spoke Spanish to was just so happy I was speaking, that they helped me with any words I struggled on, and even would teach me the "Spanish" way of saying it. Nicest people in the world. Going to Salamanca was by far the best choice I could have made for my Sophomore year in college.

It was always a dream of mine to visit Spain and after spending a year in Salamamca with AIFS I couldn't think of a better way to have fulfilled that dream. The program and the staff are incredible, they go out of their way to make sure you enjoy your time abroad. The academic advisor is one of the best advisors I have ever had, he makes sure that you are enrolled in classes that are not only appropriate for your language level but also interesting to you. Meeting and getting to know the locals was the best thing I could have done. The Salmantinos are extremely sweet, funny, and always willing to help you with what ever you need.

My experience in Granada with AIFS was simply perfect. The housing situation living in the student residence was a great mix of other AIFS students as well as Spanish college students. The women who worked at the residencia were pleasant and always helpful.

The AIFS staff in Granada treated all of us as if we were their own children. I could tell that they genuinely cared about our well-being and were always there to answer any questions or address concerns.

The Spanish program at the University of Granada was fun and challenging. I would have enjoyed having classes with other international students, but all of my classes were only with other American students studying abroad. Still, it was a great experience. I enjoyed the professors and the course content.

I must also point out that this program was FAR above the program that I chose the previous summer through CEA. Unlike the staff at CEA, I always knew that I could go to the AIFS staff with anything and they would help me. I also knew that I could talk with any of my roommates or fellow students. The students in Granada were not there just to party, unlike the students I encountered in Barcelona.

Overall, it was an awesome experience that I will always cherish! I would recommend an AIFS experience to anyone interested in studying abroad.

Imagine for a moment you're favorite vacation or Spring Break surrounded by friends - relaxing at the beach, taking a road trip, partying it up at Night with locals, or finding new and exciting places to learn about, eat at, or explore. My Semester in Granada through AIFS was that and more.

Sure during the weekdays I attended the University of Granada, taking all of my classes (Politics of Spain, Cultures of Latin America, Business, and Spanish writing and conversation) in Spanish and I Learned a lot about Spain through these classes, but there is so much more to learn outside the classroom on and AIFS trip. I got involved with the University water polo team which turned out to be a great way to get excercise, make local friends, and practice spanish. Our AIFS class also participated in intramural volleyball and soccer.

Weeknights were anxiously anticipated by our class because they brought with them the chance to go out for (free) tapas and a variety of great local atmospheres. We enjoyed the culinary intricacies of each plate, just as we did the micro cultures of the bars we ate them in. And after a few plates and many laughs we would inevitably head out to some of the great night attractions in the city. Be it a relaxing low key night at a tea restaurant or hookah lounge, or a lively night at one of the discoteccas, there is definitely plenty of opportunities to meet other young students and locals.

Of course weekends were also anxiously awaited as AIFS often planned exciting trips and activities for us to attend. We explored the city from every aspect, taking walking tours through the near by mountains and villages like Sacramonte, and through historic places like the breathtaking Alhambra. Of course we didn't just stay in town either. The program offered trip throughout the country (Madrid, Toledo, Seville, and Gibraltar to name a few)lead by professional guides, and always stopping to get a taste of the local foods. I never had to worry about planning out my travel, accommodations, or anything else on these trips, although we were given some free time to explore on our own if we desired.

That being said, I was able to also book a trip with friends I had made through the program to Lisbon and a road trip to other cities in Spain, as well as a meet up with friends from high school who were abroad in Vienna. Once you are in Europe, make the most of it and travel to other cities and countries!

My homestay was another great way to immerse myself in the Spanish culture. I only used Spanish to communicate with my Senora (house mom), which gave me great practice with the language. She also made me three meals a day of traditional spanish foods. I do have to say that the Spanish aren't known for eating breakfast, so I was glad to have a few bakeries and a dunkin doughnuts near by. And while lunches like paella and Spanish chorizo with eggs were to die for, some dinners were a little lacking as we often were just given a sandwich or some type of vegetable based ensalada. If you do plan to do a homestay, know that you are a temporary son or daughter to a Senora (and possibly her family) for a short period of time sou you must be respectful at all times. Also In Spain most people do not have air conditioning in their homes, dryers for laundry (which is washed hand dried and folded for you by your Senora), or guests over. But you can easily adapt to the changes after about two weeks.

From Bull fights to flamenco dancing, from local festivals, to historic tours of amazing places, I am so thankful to have found such a great program. I made some great friends, and unforgettable memories. I had an amazing adventure with AIFS Granada and would do it again in a heartbeat. The key to a great study abroad experience is to go with an open mind and not only be willing to do whatever comes your way, but to seize opportunities and seek them out. Don't let this opportunity with AIFS Granada pass you by.

Here is a short video of the places I went when abroad. Most of these pictures were taken on excursions planned with AIFS to cities in England, Spain, and Morocco. (The AIFS Study abroad counted towards my Rollins College INB Major) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNLjuNtlqiI

Also here is a blog I created while abroad with pictures and descriptions of places I went and things I did:
http://colbeast.wordpress.com/

I studied abroad in Granada in the Summer of 2010 and to this day I still remember certain moments of that trip like it were last week. For example, walking to and from class with my roommate who I had not known before hand. The long morning and afternoon walks with my roommate brought us together as more than just roommates, as friends. My señora was a mother through and through she was so adoring, caring and thoughtful. Her paella was out-of-this-world!
I still keep in touch with most of the friends I made on that trip. The experiences we went through together, the places we went and the things we learned brought us all together more than I could ever imagine.
The teachers at the Universidad de Granada were motivating, patient and welcoming. Our program leaders were not just that, they were teachers, tour guides, counselors, nurses, and friends.

I'd do it all again in a heartbeat!

Studying abroad in Salamanca was the best decision I've made during my academic career. It was not only enriching on an academic level, but on a personal and cultural level, as well. I very much grew as an individual and made friends from literally all over the world. The University is fantastic, and the classes offered are definitely some of the best that I've ever taken. The AIFS staff there are also incredibly helpful; they mix fun and support in great way and arrange all of the necessities for you, like living, group travel, and extracurricular activities like cooking and dance lessons. We also did several dinners and tapas outings together. I wouldn't be able to write a review for Salamanca without mentioning the nightlife. I've never had so much fun in my life! It was such a fun-loving global community with so many opportunities for socialization. And as a city, Salamanca is just beautiful. The architecture is breathtaking and it's very conveniently located for travel and visiting purposes.

Seriously, our trip to Granada by far was the best experience of my life. Going to Granada through AIFS was the best decision I could have made when choosing a program. I met many friends from other programs there who were jealous of our program. AIFS provides housing, meals, tours, trips, and schooling all at a great cost. It's a great way to learn how to travel abroad or anywhere. It may be a little more costly than other programs, but it is because of the greatness and the amount of activities that we do that were already paid for so we didn't have to budget them into our personal monies. Many other programs were jealous of our planned already paid for trips to Madrid and to the beach for example. They even helped you plan your own trips and so much fun. They provided times where you could meet locals and practice your Spanish. It was great! They also were such a great help in the schooling. If you had any issues they helped you to make sure it was taken care of properly and in a timely matter. Overall I couldn't of been more happy with my host mom and family, schooling, roommate, and all our great trips we took around Europe! I even recommended it and 2 friends went the following year, a female who stayed with my host mom and a male who stayed with a different family!