API: Experience Salamanca, Spain (Scholarships Available)

From the moment I landed in Madrid, I knew I was in good hands with my resident coordinator, Miguel Blanco, and my host mom, Juani. These two individuals made my spring semester a time of learning, growth, and immersion, all in a safe and supportive environment. Don Miguel and the API team coordinated engaging excursions where we learned more about Spanish history and culture. I think our tour of an historic Moorish palace in Trujillo, Spain, was the most exciting moment of my trip—looking over the palace walls and seeing miles of greenery and the old city below truly put Spain’s age and beauty into perspective. I would not have seen such a sight had it not been for Don Miguel. While the excursions were amazing opportunities to explore the Iberian Peninsula, living with my host mom taught me how to enjoy life day by day as a Spaniard. Our daily lunch and dinner chats were some of my favorite moments from my trip because it was the best time to ask questions and learn more about the typical Spanish experience. She made Salamanca feel like home, and I loved living under her roof. When I remember my time in Salamanca, all I can do is smile. I am so grateful I had the chance to embrace the Spanish lifestyle and find peace in the Golden City.

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Late-night kebabs, dancing to a mix of Spanish and English music, visiting cathedrals, strolling to the university, seeing castles, exploring aqueducts, learning to make traditional cuisine, and spending time with my host mom were just a few highlights of my incredible journey in Spain. I chose to travel to Salamanca through API Abroad. The University of Salamanca, one of Spain's oldest universities, drew me to the cty. Its blend of a slower pace of life and thriving social scene plus location in Castilla-Leon made it the perfect destination for my study abroad experience. Applying through API Abroad was a seamless and straightforward process. Each part of the application was detailed and provided clear guidance, walking me through every step. Before my departure, API sent a comprehensive pre-departure guide, covering essentials like cultural differences, packing suggestions, and descriptions of our host families and potential city excursions. The day of departure was filled with firsts—my first time traveling abroad, being on a plane, and traveling alone. Knowing that my program advisor would meet me at the Madrid airport was a huge relief. Miguel, my program advisor, greeted me warmly upon arrival, as did the other students in the program. The initial days in Madrid, filled with tours and bonding experiences, made the transition to Salamanca smooth and enjoyable. Orientation sessions covered everything from schedules and host family arrangements to cultural norms, available resources, and helpful guides. Living in Salamanca offered an authentic immersion into Spanish culture. My host family prepared traditional dishes like judías de verduras, pisto de verduras, hornazo, empanadillas, and more. We attended the Feria in September and visited the casetas. I joined bachata and salsa classes, learned to cook paella, tortilla de patatas, and torrijas, and biked across the city. Beyond Salamanca, I explored the aqueducts and castle in Segovia, and enjoyed a medieval market in León. These experiences deepened my appreciation for Spanish traditions and daily life. I attended classes through Cursos Internacionales at the University of Salamanca, with a schedule of classes five days a week from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The professors were incredibly kind and supportive, patiently explaining concepts and showing genuine interest in our experiences outside of the classroom. One professor, in particular, would remind us every Friday, “Recordad, haced cosas” (Remember to go and do things). This encouragement added to the warm, inviting atmosphere that made learning Spanish enjoyable and fulfilling. Miguel, our program director, was always available to address any questions or concerns. Whether accompanying me to the pharmacy when I was sick, recommending restaurants, helping me find glasses, or guiding us on program-organized trips, Miguel’s support was invaluable. He even organized a Thanksgiving dinner to ensure we felt at home during the holidays. The friendship among the other students in the program, who came from diverse backgrounds, also contributed to a supportive and vibrant community. My time in Spain helped me grow in countless ways. It strengthened my Spanish language skills, boosted my confidence, and made me more independent and open-minded. The friendliness of the people around me—my host mom, new friends, and program staff—eased any homesickness I felt. When I did miss home, their support made all the difference. This journey was transformative, and I’m eager to return to Spain someday. API Abroad and Spain were the perfect match for my study abroad experience. The program’s exceptional support, Salamanca’s charm, and the cultural immersion opportunities created an unforgettable experience. I wholeheartedly recommend API Abroad to anyone considering studying abroad—it’s a chance to grow, explore, and create lifelong memories. This journey not only shaped my academic and personal growth but also gave me a broader perspective on life, inspiring me to embrace new challenges and opportunities with confidence.

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I wish I could come up with any critiques about my time abroad in Salamanca with API, but I simply cannot, except for the fact that I had to return home two months early because of Covid-19. The people of Salamanca, Salamantinos, call Salamanca the City of Gold- and it absolutely lives up to its name! From sitting in the Plaza Mayor people watching and drinking café con leche, to picnicking at Rio Tormes next to the Puente Romano, there was never a moment I wasn't pinching myself saying “how could life get any better?”. Salamanca is a small city full of so much life, Spanish culture, and Spanish language. By choosing to study in Salamanca with API, you will be supported by the API staff through all parts of your time abroad. The API Salamanca staff made my experience, and I am forever grateful for all I have personally gained from studying in Salamanca. This is your sign! Sign up now!!

I had a fantastic time studying abroad through API. Their staff made the application process easy and simple, and planned everything so I could be stress free. I highly recommend studying abroad, as you will learn many different things about yourself and about the world around you.

I went into this experience very nervous because I had never been overseas! The on-site staff was outstanding and they really went out of their way to make sure the students had the best experience possible. I felt that the pre departure information was given to us later than I would have liked, but everything worked out great and I couldn’t imagine a better experience for myself. If I get another chance to study abroad again, I will definitely go through API!

The time I spent in Salamanca was hands down the best four months of my life. Everything about the API program and the city was perfect, I can legitimately say I have 0 complaints. API was wonderful, starting with picking us up from the airport and having a multi-city orientation to get to know Spain and the other students in the program. They continued to have dinners, events, and amazing excursions throughout the semester and were extremely supportive with academic and living situations. Inma and Ana were extremely capable and kind program coordinators and I would definitely recommend API to anyone. Salamanca is the perfect university city. It is easy to travel, with various cheap bus services and Madrid being only 2 hours away. I was able to travel extensively and inexpensively because of Salamanca's great location. However, I found myself often not wanting to leave because Salamanca is such a fun and charming city. There is always something going on, yet it is not overwhelmingly big. Everything in the city is within walking distance. The university and student life is huge, and I got to meet people from all over the world while studying in Salamanca. People are always socializing and going out, and the city overall has a friendly, youthful vibe while still displaying the beauty of its centuries-old architecture. The program's academics were overall good. My only warning would be for the Integrated Studies program (which I did), as it is very challenging. It definitely helped me improve my Spanish and let me interact more with Spaniards and other international students, but it is much more difficult than the normal study abroad courses. I lived with a host family who had been hosting students for 27 years. It was a great experience and I still keep in touch with them now. My friends lived in residencias and they also had good experiences- there is really no bad living situation in Salamanca! I could talk about my time in Salamanca for days, but overall I would say this: I have absolutely no regrets about choosing the API Salamanca program. It was a great program in the perfect city and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking to immerse themselves in Spanish language and culture.

As a Spanish major, I hoped studying abroad would help me with my fluency and to become more comfortable speaking Spanish. I wanted to be immersed in the Spanish language and culture and figured a smaller city would be ideal. All signs pointed to Salamanca! I chose the residencia housing option so I lived with Spaniards and API American students. Pilar, the owner of the residencia, was amazing. She was like my mother; I would come home from classes and we'd talk about my day and then we’d end up talking about anything and everything. I spoke Spanish every day with Pilar and the Spaniards in the residencia. I was in the Hispanic Studies program and loved the classes. It was all taught in Spanish and I was able to choose which electives I preferred. There was not a ton of homework, but I was still challenged every day. The professors were super fun and interesting. I left Salamanca with tons of knowledge of Spanish history, art, culture, and colloquial phrases! Salamanca is a magical place... The city is so beautiful and there is always something to do, even if its just walking around discovering new parts of the city or hanging out in a park. API helped arrange a tutoring position for me and also an intercambio (language exchange). My intercambio partner and I became great friends; she introduced me to her friends and I met a lot of locals that way. I got sick once and Maria, the resident director, walked me to the doctor and helped me through the visit. Even though I was far from home, I was super comforted to know that I had people that would help me any time of the day if needed. API planned awesome excursions and I couldn’t have been more pleased with my housing and the help I received from the resident directors. In the end, Salamanca was exactly what I hoped for and exceeded all of my expectations.

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My time in Salamanca was really run and I definitely learned a lot! My homestay was so sweet and caring. She spoke no English at all, so living there really forced me to use the language all the time, which is great for learning. I remember spending many nights watching Spanish Game Shows (concursos) and chatting late in the night with my homestay. She introduced me to her entire family, who frequently visited to have lunch or dinner with us. Another bonus of living with a homestay is the delicious food. Even though I ran every day by the river, I gained 10 lbs during my time in Spain (whoops). The food really is to die for. Although it was nice having my own room, I would recommend to prospective study-abroaders that they choose to have a roommate. It would have been nice to have someone to walk home with at night and just to a have a friend from the start of the program. API was extremely accommodating and easily accessible. They were knowledgable and really friendly. Ana (our program coordinator) was absolutely lovely. After orientation, the program is pretty hands-off, but if I ever needed them, they were extremely easy to contact and provided me with all the resources I needed. The nightlife in Salamanca is awesome! There are lots of discotecas and bars. The town is crawling with university students, so there is almost always a party going on. The town itself is very walkable. You can walk across town in 45 minutes. It is also very safe, something my parents and I both appreciated. My classes at the University of Salamanca were pretty interesting. They were all very small, so I had a lot of opportunity to speak in class. You will likely be in a class with other students who are learning Spanish as a second or third language, so it didn’t feel like an intimidating environment. I almost never had homework so my afternoons and evenings were free to explore Salamanca and hang out with friends, which was nice. Overall, my experience in Salamanca was extremely positive. I consider the town a second-home, and have already made plans to go back this spring! Studying in Salamanca made me a more adventurous, independent person. I became much more comfortable with being outside of my comfort zone, which I considered to be an invaluable skill as I entered into college.If you have the opportunity to go, do it! You will not regret the amazing adventure of living and studying abroad.

I had studied in Salamanca as part of a specialized program with my university. API administration was fantastic, I wouldn't have survived study abroad without Maria. From her taking me to the hospital when I was sick, to her talking to my professor when I had a problem with class, her number one priority was making sure we had no problems and felt comfortable. She is also so personable and fun to talk to. Salamanca is the perfect sized city if you aren't that used to big city living. It is nice, quaint, and most things are under a 10 minute walk. Salamanca is very safe as well, not once did I feel uncomfortable walking alone at night. Things are also very cheap which is perfect for a college kid studying abroad on a budget. Also the students that go through API are great, my group of kids had gotten very close and we became one big family. API definitely provides you some lifelong friends. The only downside is being 2 and a half hours away from Madrid. Every time you plan a trip you have to fly out of the Madrid Barajas airport, requiring you to take a bus or train to get there. It can add up after a while and sometimes the bus company goes on strike on busy traveling days. Overall the city has a fun environment and is a great place to study. It has a lot of history and the people speak a pure form of Spanish, perfect for anyone looking to pick up the language. I highly recommend studying in Salamanca.

I studied abroad in Salamanca as part of a customized study abroad from my university. After traveling throughout Spain, I can honestly say that this is an incredible city to study for students because it offers a convenient location (2 hours from Madrid), amazing architecture, friendly people and the best staff. Advisors Maria and Inma are incredible helpful in all regards, whether you have a question about traveling, housing issues or just want someone to talk to. In the U.S., API coordinated all the housing and information forms in timely and professional manner. I even became an API Campus Advocate upon my return to the U.S.

I lived with a host family; which allowed me to be immersed. They know what it is like to be students- they want you to go out and experience it yourself. Salamanca is like a university town in the states- you will be immersed with local students as well as other study abroad students. I learned more about myself than I did anything else.

Loved everything about my experience. Fantastic family, awesome directors and overall great experience.

I had an incredible experience.

Studying abroad with API in Salamanca, Spain for 4 months was the most radical thing I've done with my life so far. Before going overseas I'd never even been to the West Coast, let alone another country! So naturally I was scared out of my socks before departure. There were times where I'd thought I'd made a huge mistake and wanted to cancel everything, but I'm glad I didn't, because it all paid off. While abroad I made lifelong friends from around the world, got unofficially adopted into another family, saw parts of the world so many people only dream about, and grew as a person in the process. And none of it would've been possible without API. Through them I met my second family, through them I saw the sights and they made it all happen. I would recommend API to anyone and everyone looking to study abroad. Academics: The classes I took ranged from very easy (culture, conversation, and cinema) to despair inducing difficulty (Advanced Spanish Grammar). However, despite the gap between difficulty levels I feel that I learned a great deal and benefited immensely from the classes. Living Situation: I was placed with a host family consisting of my host mother, 21 year old host brother, and my darling little 10 year old host sister. Living with them was the absolute highlight of my experience abroad because it immersed me in the culture and built a permanent bond between me and Spain. Cultural Immersion: Salamanca is a bit of a tourist destination, but not nearly as much as Madrid or Barcelona or Paris. And as a smaller city it seemed as though a lot of the locals didn't speak English which was great news for me, a Spanish major trying to polish up my own speaking skills. Program Administration: Maria and Inma, my Regional Directors in Salamanca, were absolutely amazing. They were always there to help or give advice and even though I didn't see them everyday I appreciated the feeling of having a reliable support system. Social Life: In Salamanca, the social thing to do during the day is to take a "paseo", which is where you pretty much just wander around the city with your friends and at night the clubs are all open for business.

Salamanca was incredible and API was the best program to go through. They gave me so much for my money. I was able to travel almost every weekend and I experienced so much while I was there. They were so helpful in any situation and they were always quick on responding to any issues or questions I had. I would study abroad again and again with them.

My experience in Salamanca was more than I expected. The city itself attracted study abroad students from all over the world, so not only did I meet Spaniards, but I made friends from all over Europe, Asia and South America. This multiculturalism was a slight drawback in itself since it made mingling with Spaniards more of an effort. Intercambios were a great solution to this, and there were always a lot of Spaniards who wanted to practice a second language. The API program directors were wonderful! However, the integrated program was different then all the others and because it had so much freedom in classes, be prepared to do some research. Also, take as many classes as possible! Since a lot of Spaniards there sign up for 7 or 8 (even when they overlap) and borrow each others notes. The more classes you take, the more opportunities you have to meet people. The city of Salamanca was the perfect size, small enough to find your favorite spots at any time of day, and large enough to discover new areas by the rio or a different cafe. I always felt safe there, especially living close to the Plaza Mayor. Salamanca's location to Madrid was partially the reason I chose to study there, and it definitely made weekend trips across Europe very easy! Also, Porto, Portugal is only 5ish hours away by bus and a beautiful place to visit. Nightlife was great, especially during the week which let you not miss anything traveling on the weekends. Overall a great city to live in, study Spanish, and travel throughout Europe!

I had an absolutely incredible experience with API in Salamanca. I enjoyed all my classes, my host family was lovely, and the resident directors went above and beyond to help you with anything you needed. Salamanca is a beautiful city filled with life - if you take advantage of every opportunity with an open mind you will be in for an amazing cultural experience!

I had a good time on this program, but I wasn't very pleased with API's administration. They weren't very supportive.