The three weeks I spent abroad in Spain were unforgettable and truly amazing. I’m incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to travel abroad, experiencing all the places I visited, learning from the things I encountered, and meeting the people I met. The program was jam-packed with activities that immersed us in the language and culture of Spain. Our classes were taught in Spanish, we talked with our host families in Spanish, and we interacted with strangers in Spanish.

The first couple of days were a bit overwhelming in that regard, considering all the new things that were all happening at the same time, but from the first week onward, everything clicked into place. Both my verbal communication and comprehension in Spanish have improved drastically. Our host family was amazing; they were warm, welcoming, and encouraged both me and my friend (with whom I was bunking) to speak Spanish. In addition, I was able to talk to students from France and Germany and compare and contrast the way of life between the US and their countries. Spending time just talking to the host family after meals was incredibly rewarding. It was great to be able to utilize what we learned in class.

The activities! Essentially every day we had an activity either before or after class that gave us a small glimpse into the history and culture of Spain. We danced, visited grand cathedrals, explored neighborhoods, and more. After the first week, I was amazed at how much we had done and seen in just one week. One thing I loved about Salamanca (and miss) was the walkability of the city. I loved walking everywhere and seeing all the beautiful architecture; the intricate facades of the buildings, the cobbled roads, and the glow of the buildings at night made walking and exploring the city really enjoyable. Oh, and walking we did. Lots of it.

Another thing we did lots of was eat ham. Ham chips, ham croquettes, ham ham ham. The abundance of ham in meals was a culture shock for me. On top of the daily activities, we also had excursions on the weekends. We visited Segovia where we saw the Alcázar de Segovia and a Roman aqueduct that’s almost 2000 years old; Avila, where we walked on the walls surrounding the city; La Peña de Francia, with breathtaking views; Alberca, a beautiful small town; San Sebastian, with the mixed people and architecture; and finally Biarritz, for the beach. On this trip, I experienced so many new things, met great people, saw amazing places, and learned so so much. I can’t emphasize enough how much this trip meant to me and how I’ll carry it with me for the rest of my life.

Thank you to all the people who made this trip possible. Thank you, SPC!

– Kai , SPC Spain Study Abroad Program, June 2025