I am eternally grateful for this remarkable, life-changing experience, where each day of the trip was a new adventure. For three weeks, we stayed in the beautiful Salamanca, Spain, and attended classes at the Estudio Sampere. If you are looking for an adventure and to immerse yourself in the Spanish language, rich culture, history, and art, I highly recommend this experience. It is well worth it. You will regret not going.
Living with a host family provided precious opportunities to practice our Spanish while learning extensively about Spain and its culture. We also visited other charming Spanish cities, including Segovia, Ávila, La Alberca, and San Sebastián, as well as Biarritz, France. Each city has its own charm, and many of its unique qualities are steeped in history.
For example, we saw and learned about ancient Roman structures in Spain that still exist today, such as the Aqueduct of Segovia and the Roman Bridge in Salamanca. Visiting the medieval castle in Segovia, “El Alcázar de Segovia,” transports you to the past, and while in Ávila, we had the opportunity to view and walk along the beautiful medieval walls surrounding the city. If you are a fan of nature and beautiful landscapes, you will enjoy hiking and viewing the mountains at La Peña de Francia, as well as at El Monte Urgull in San Sebastián. San Sebastián also has its gorgeous and famous beach, “La Playa de la Concha,” as well as uniquely shaped sculptures by the water.
Traveling to Spain and taking Spanish classes at the Estudio Sampere in Salamanca not only helps you study Spanish but also teaches you how to live your life in Spanish by forcing you to think in Spanish while navigating the city, making purchases, ordering food, and conversing and building relationships with your host family, classmates, professors, and even locals. This real-world experience is irreplaceable. Any normal Spanish class, whether in-class, online, or on-campus in the United States, could never compare to it. Additionally, if you have taken any French classes, such as those offered by SPC, that knowledge will come in handy. You can practice your French while visiting Biarritz, France, if you choose to.
Salamanca is a magnificent and magical city because it has endless beautiful architecture, including its historic cathedrals, statues, university, museums, Plaza Mayor, and much more. We immersed ourselves in the unique cultures, histories, and foods of each city we visited. While exploring Salamanca, we learned about famous Spanish stories and plays, such as “La Celestina,” and their importance, as well as famous Spanish celebrations and holidays. By the end of the trip, we were very familiar with Spain’s staple foods, including gazpacho, salmorejo, tortilla Española, paella, croquetas, and more.
Overall, this trip helped me grow as a person. It showed me that traveling to a new place outside the U.S. is not as scary as I thought. This program allowed me to travel and study abroad in a safe, beneficial way, helping me get the most out of the experience. I found this trip empowering. It encouraged me to step out of my shell, regain self-trust and confidence by thriving through new experiences, and live life to the fullest. ¡Puedo decir con seguridad que esta experiencia valió la pena!
– Anna, SPC Spain Study Abroad Program, June 2026