Me in front of the Royal Palace in Madrid

Author: Natalie Ross | Majors: Political Science and Latin American & Latino Studies

I have dreamt of studying abroad for years, and I am grateful for the Honors College Study Abroad Grant for giving me the opportunity this summer.

I studied Spanish in Granada, Spain for 9 weeks through API’s Spanish Language and Culture Studies Program. I chose this program to earn 12 credit hours towards my Spanish minor and Latin American Studies major. Being immersed in Spanish helped my language skills in ways that I could have never expected. Having to speak Spanish to my friends, host family, and classmates everyday quickly increased my ability to comprehend the language. In June, I took intensive language classes to help me quickly adjust to using the language, and to prepare myself for the Spanish and Latin American culture classes that I would take in July. I have been taking Spanish classes for six years now, but I was very surprised by how different it is to take language courses with teachers who do not speak English. This was a hard adjustment because complex topics could only be explained in Spanish, but it was incredibly beneficial to learn how to ask questions and understand explanations in Spanish. The small class sizes allowed me to build connections with the other students in my classes and with the amazing professors at the University of Granada which created a very fun learning environment.

Along with attending classes, my program took us on many excursions including flamenco shows, pottery classes, and cooking classes. My favorite excursion was a weekend trip to Cabo de Gata, a small beach town on the Mediterranean coastline. This town is not a well-known tourist spot, so we were able to enjoy the quiet beaches and connect with locals. We went kayaking and snorkeling around the coast and tried cuisine with locally caught seafood. One morning, we hiked to a secluded beach that looked like the front of a postcard and spent hours playing fútbol and swimming in the clear blue water – that was a day I will never forget!

The best part of the weekend excursions was the opportunity to grow closer with the other students in my program and share new experiences with them. Before the summer, I was nervous to spend two months away from my friends and family, because I thought it would be lonely to be surrounded by strangers. However, this was not the case at all, and I was shocked at how quickly I became close friends with the students in my program. Although I started the trip feeling uncomfortable, putting myself out there allowed me to make friends from around the world and led to an incredible experience abroad.

My biggest advice for future study abroad students is to lean into the uncomfortable situations because they often turn out to be the best memories. Studying abroad is truly a unique experience, and it is made better by pushing yourself to enjoy the aspects of your host country that make it different from what you are used to. Early on in my trip, my program director gave us one piece of advice, “Remember when comparing what you know at home to the new experiences you will have here, nothing is better or worse, it is just different.” This is great advice to anyone studying abroad because preparing to have different experiences without comparing them to your home life will allow you to fully embrace being abroad.