Alumni Interview with Carson Pruett

What inspired you to go abroad?

A desire to learn more Spanish, as well as immerse myself in a new culture other than my own.

Why did you choose Euroace?

Euroace was very affordable in the grand scheme of options, and the professors at my university highly recommended the program. Euroace allowed us multiple learning opportunities through both classes and internships.

What was your favorite part about Valencia?

I couldn't pick a favorite part of my trip. My top three, however, would be the weather/climate, food, and nightlife. Valencia had wonderful beaches to spend sunny days at, the food was top notch almost always, and the discotheques/bar scene at night was great. I never had a dull moment while there.

What made your experience abroad unique? 

The opportunity to work in a foreign country—especially while on a relatively short time frame—made this opportunity not only fun, but an excellent resume builder as well.

How did local staff support you throughout your program? 

The Euroace team was fantastic. They communicated with us at all hours of the day, making sure we were doing okay with our classes, internships, and overall experiences. They were passionate about what they did, and it was apparent they love their jobs there. They also held weekly events like kayaking, yoga, and intercambios so the students consistently had something to do.

Describe a typical day in the life of your program.

Classes ran from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., with a short break in the middle for lunch. Following, I would usually spend a couple hours at my internship. Some days I had a full day of my program, some days I had a ton of free time to do what I wanted.

What's one thing you wish you would have done differently?

I wish I would have known the best deals for taking public transportation. I took the metro often because my internship was in a "suburb" of Valencia, but feel as if I may have been able to save money through purchasing some type of long stay card or something like that. I'm not entirely sure.

What did you enjoy doing in your free time?

I loved going to the beach (although my skin didn't always love me for it!). Biking and walking around Valencia was a lot of fun as well. I particularly enjoyed the discotheques. I don't know of a spot in South Dakota that could offer an experience like those!

What was your accommodation like? What did you like best about it?

I stayed with a host family during my time in Valencia. I was nervous at first, but really shouldn't have been. My host family was incredibly kind, and I felt welcomed immediately. I've always wanted a little brother, and my eight year old host brother, Pablo, gave me a sense of what that's like when I lived with him.

What is one thing every participant should know before participating in your program?

It's a lot at first. Even navigating the city to get to the Euroace building was stressful. What seems super confusing at first becomes second nature in a matter of days, so don't stress too much about knowing where you are right away! I'd definitely recommend learning the public transportation system somewhat before going, that was by far the most confusing aspect to me.

Now that you're home, how has your program abroad impacted your life?

I still talk to my host family, and am thankful for the relationships I made with them, the Euroace team, and countless friends I made in Spain. I am a much more open minded person for my time spent in Valencia, and I know that I will be a better teacher thanks to the experiences I gained there.

Would you recommend Euroace to others? Why?

I would love nothing more than to go back and participate in this program again. They offer everything a student could ask for, and I would be hard pressed to choose a group other than Euroace for this type of experience in the future. Taking classes in itself offers a fantastic opportunity, but combined with an internship to boot and a very affordable price made this a perfect fit for me!