As I reflect on my time in Spain, I have come to conclude that my trip was truly amazing, and I am very grateful for the opportunity. Since I was young, I have always wanted to travel, and Spain was one of my top destinations. Other than the beautiful sights, I was able to learn a lot about the Spanish culture through food, dance, the nightlife, and, of course, the people.
My classes in Spain were somewhat challenging, but I learned a lot through them. The teacher to student ratio was very small, allowing the students to have a more hands on experience, and feel more comfortable asking questions. All my teachers were very helpful, and I felt very comfortable asking them for advice or help on matters school related or non-school related.
I must say that I learned the most outside of the classroom, however. While I was in Spain, I was able to visit many different regions of Spain, each of which carries a unique history. It was interesting to me to see a country smaller than the size of Texas being so diverse in their history. The surgeon I was able to shadow in Spain knew a lot about Spanish history, and I was able to learn a lot from him. Also, just in my town of Alcala de Henares there was much history to be learned. For example, the famous writer Don Quixote is thought to have been born in this town. For advancing my Spanish communication skills, my host mom was the best. She spoke no English, so it forced me to use my Spanish to be able to communicate, and after two months, I would say that I am much more comfortable at using my Spanish to communicate than when I first begun the program.
Overall, I am very satisfied with my study abroad experience. I would recommend to any student to travel and experience other cultures. I believe that this is a eye opening experience that every student needs before entering the work force, so that they will be more accepting of other cultures.
Lindsey Sherrill is majoring in Psychology with a minor in Spanish. She participated in a faculty-led trip to Alcala, Spain through the Spanish Department in Summer, 2018. Lindsey had the following to say about her time in Spain, “Studying abroad really opened my eye to the world. No other time in your life will you be able to spend a couple months in another country, so go for it!”
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