A semester in paradise: the experience that opened my eyes to the rest of my life

I can't say enough wonderful things about my experience in Alicante. I attended the Universidad de Alicante for the Spring 2012 semester and my only regret is not staying longer! Alicante is a beautiful city full of life, with a size that made it realistic to explore thoroughly. I loved being able to walk almost everywhere, as well as having the ability to utilize public transport (bus, tram, and train) throughout the city. It was a great big-city experience with the convenience of a small town! The people were more than friendly, my apartment was huge and beautiful, and I was ten minutes walking distance from everything in town (including the beach!). Also, being on the Mediterranean, the food was incredible.

My classes were engaging and challenging and my Spanish improved tremendously as a result of the accelerated pace of USAC language tracks. I also took some fantastic extracurricular courses (Spanish cuisine, sailing, and rowing) and had an amazing time in all of them! These classes outside of the university are the best way to get a feel for the culture and the local environment.

Another great perk of Alicante is the ease of travel to other cities in Spain and throughout Europe. Plane travel is cheap, fast and easy, and the trains are a great way to see the landscape. There are dozens of small towns near Alicante that are within an hour or so on the tram and are truly hidden jems on the coast. I never got enough of traveling while I was abroad.

All in all, living in Alicante was the greatest experience of my life. I learned more about myself in a semester than I have in all of my 21 years before that, and a huge piece of my heart will always remain in that city. My advice: pack light, travel often, try everything, and never say no to an opportunity! Get immersed: speak the language, try the food (and the wine), visit Tabarca by boat, hit the beach as much as possible and learn the Spanish way to enjoy life! You will be astounded by how much you change.