Samantha: Salamanca, Spain

My time abroad was a life-changing experience that I will be forever grateful for.  Going to Spain for a month to study allowed me to see the world in a new perspective and learn in a new way.  In reference to the study abroad program itself, the classes I took at the University of Salamanca were very organized and gave me more information to expand my knowledge of Spanish at a more advanced level.  Walking every day through a beautiful, small city in Spain made going to school and learning that much better. When I wasn’t in class, I was roaming around the city with friends looking for new places to explore and admire.  There wasn’t a place in the city of Salamanca I didn’t love. This city had an abundance of beautiful architecture everywhere I looked. It was humbling to even be standing in front of some of the breathtaking buildings and churches.  Walking around the city also brought my friends and I to unique restaurants with delicious food. The food in Spain is just one of the many things that will make you fall in love with the charming country. Lastly, living with a host family made me appreciate the program even more.  Speaking with my host mother every day and having meals with her completely submerged me into the Spanish culture which was only beneficial to me and my learning. Having a family to guide me through being in a different continent and country made my time there that much easier. 

I am extremely grateful to have had this experience that I will never be able to forget.   My time in Spain changed me as a person for the better, giving me a more positive, mature perspective on life.  Spain has been a country I have always wanted to visit and plan to return to in the near future because of the great experiences I had there.  I am thankful to have had this opportunity to travel, study, and become a better version of myself.