Having never left the United States before, 3 weeks in Spain sounded like forever. Yet time has passed so quickly and with only 3 full days left in this beautiful country, I wish I could stay longer.

Nothing could have prepared me for the incredible experience I have had in Salamanca. I have truly enjoyed studying at Estudio Sampere with fellow SPC students and students from other colleges in the U.S. Going to class feels like meeting with a bunch of friends that just so happen to speak Spanish. I learn new things every day and the classes feel like big group conversations, complete with jokes and stories. I love being around other people that truly enjoy learning and practicing Spanish as much as I do.

Talking to my host mom, study abroad students, locals on the street, waiters in restaurants, and employees in stores has helped me improve my communication skills greatly. Speaking Spanish day after day has also helped me increase my vocabulary and proper use of grammatical tenses. I am now familiar with some colloquial Spanish words and phrases.

The roommate I was paired with could not have been a better fit for me. We are in the same class level at Estudio Sampere and speak to each other in Spanish all of the time. We help each other remember new words that we have learned and we walk the city together. Although we didn’t know each other before this program, we have grown to be good friends in just a matter of weeks.

The daily cultural activities and weekend excursions have allowed me to see more Spanish culture than I expected to. I have been able to visit numerous places in Salamanca in addition to the cities of Segovia, Zamora, San Sebastián, and Biarritz (in France). I am still disappointed that I am unable to stay in Spain after the program ends, but I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to see so much of the country with my SPC group.

This trip has not only helped me improve my Spanish immensely, but has also opened my eyes to a bigger world. For our first two weeks here, my roommate and I shared our host home with a Turkish boy and a German girl. A girl from France just joined us this weekend. It is amazing how people from all around the world can be united by the desire to learn a new language. By speaking to my teachers and housemates, I have learned not only about Spanish culture, but also European culture.

This study abroad program to Salamanca is one that I will always cherish. I am very thankful to have received a scholarship from the SPC Honors College. Although I was initially a little apprehensive about leaving the country for 3 weeks, I am now certain that I’d like to participate in more study abroad programs in the future.