What inspired you to travel abroad?
I wanted to experience life in another country to broaden my perspective on the world. I have always been passionate about traveling and wanted to have the opportunity to live in a new place and be able to travel as much as I could.
I also used it as an opportunity to grow as a person. It is so easy to get wrapped up in university life and work so I wanted to be able to separate myself from all that and figure out who I truly am.
Why did you choose the American Institute For Foreign Study?
The program I did was AIFS Spring 2023 Semester in Granada, Spain. I chose AIFS because I knew people at my home university who had studied abroad through that program and they recommended it to me. I knew that I wanted to study in Spain because I wanted to improve my Spanish language skills.
Also, I fell in love with the country on a trip there in high school and always knew I wanted to go back for a longer period of time. I chose Granada because it is a beautiful city and I am fascinated by all the Arab architecture and influence.
View of the gorgeous Alhambra Palace in Granada, the city where I studied abroad.
What was your favorite part about your host country/city?
I loved how walkable it was! Granada is a small city so I could more or less walk everywhere I needed to go in under 30 minutes. I enjoyed spending afternoons wandering around the city and exploring new areas and neighborhoods.
Also, the Tapas culture was amazing! At most restaurants, you get a free tapa (small plate) if you order a drink which gives you the opportunity to sample a lot of the local cuisine.
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
Definitely the people, I met so many amazing friends in my program which made the experience so amazing. AIFS does a great job with planning cultural activities early on so you get to know the other people in the program. I always had people to get lunch with or go out with at night. I am still in touch with a lot of the friends I met abroad.
How did the local program staff support you throughout your program?
Our resident directors, Noelia and Alberto, were super supportive and nice. They had an "open-door policy" at the office where we could stop by at any time to say hi, do homework, or just hang out. They also made an effort to get to know every student in the program and make sure that everyone was acclimating to the culture shock.
I greatly enjoyed visiting the beautiful gardens of the Alhambra Palace in Spain.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?
I wish I made more of an effort to become friends with locals. We had such a great community within our program so we spent most of our time with each other. Spending time with locals would have allowed me to improve my Spanish-speaking abilities even more and learn more about the culture. While this would have been good, I am very happy with the friendships I made during my time abroad.
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
I had my first class at either 8:30 am or 10 am, so I would usually wake up fairly early in the morning. I would attend my first class and then I would have a break to get coffee and a snack before I had my second and last class of the day.
After class, I would typically meet up with friends and go out for lunch. Then, I would explore in the afternoons or relax back at my apartment if I was tired. We would eat dinner around 8 or 9 and then sometimes go out for drinks or tapas in the evening. No two days were the same!
What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?
During my free time, I enjoyed exploring the city. Some days, I would wander through the streets and see what I would come across. I also loved trying the pastries at the many panaderias.
My friends and I also took the bus to go to the beach a few times or the metro to go to the mall. There is so much to do that I never really get bored.
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
I lived in an apartment with three other girls from my program. I liked the apartment because we had a lot more freedom than those who lived in homestays or residences. Luckily, AIFS took care of all of our rent and utilities so we did not have to worry about any of that; it was just included in our initial program fee. We were responsible for our meals but the grocery store was super close and affordable!
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
Studying abroad has impacted my life in so many ways. One of the biggest differences between Spanish and U.S. culture is that Spanish culture is a lot more laid back and relaxed. Before I went, I was always very "go go go" and stressed all the time, and being in Spain helped relax me and look at life from a much calmer approach. This is definitely something that I have brought back to the US with me.
Aerial shot showing the view of Malaga, Spain from the top of the cathedral.
What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?
Take full advantage of all of the trips and cultural activities that AIFS puts on! They plan these programs for you and they are a great way to learn more about the city or country you are living in. Also, these activities are great ways to get to know the other people in your program who could become lasting friends.
Would you recommend the American Institute For Foreign Study to others? Why?
Yes, I would absolutely recommend this program and provider. The AIFS staff were super helpful and always receptive to the needs of the participants.
Granada is also a beautiful city and a great place to live. The smaller size makes it a lot less overwhelming to navigate and you will likely be able to explore most of the city throughout your time there.
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?
The biggest benefit of traveling abroad is you grow so much as a person. Living in a different culture truly changes your perspective on the world. It changes your perspective on your home country because you begin to compare life in both countries. Also, it allowed me to reflect on who I am as a person and what I truly want in life.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful travel means to travel for a reason as to bring meaning into one's life. We often hear people say they want to travel to "find themselves" and while this is a little cliche, it does present the idea of meaningful travel. One should travel as a way to learn something about the world and about oneself.
