An unforgettable experience that changed my life in the best way possible
Studying abroad in Valencia was such an amazing experience, I cannot recommend this city enough! From a 20-minute bike ride to the beach or a 45-minute transit ride into the vineyards and winery fields, it was the perfect mix of the Spanish culture. During my stay, I gained confidence by stepping out of my comfort zone. The API program provided a nice dorm with a game room, movie room, and multiple study rooms for students to rent during their stay. The dorm housed international students from different universities other than my own and I was scared and felt alone at first, but slowly I started to communicate with the other students and realized they felt the same way. I made friends with people from all over the world and learned about diverse cultures and traditions. Since I was abroad in Spain, the students in my dorm mostly spoke Spanish; this was a great way for me to make mistakes and learn the language. Also, since the dorm was located in a non-tourist area, when I explored the city, I came across a dance studio that was a 10-minute walk from my dorm and signed up for bachata and salsa dance classes every Monday. Everyone who went to the dance class was a local and only spoke Spanish, I felt out of place, but I challenged myself to be immersed in the culture. Surprisingly, the dance classes I took ended up being one of the highlights of my studying abroad experience. It broadened my Spanish skills and reduced my anxiety and the language barrier. My university was a 10-minute walk from my dorm, which was across the bridge and behind the famous Torres de Serranos, providing unique classes. My major was integrated studies with three minors in philosophy, communication, and entrepreneurship, so I took classes related to my degree plan. In total, I took five classes. Some of my favorite classes included, “The Art of Being Human,” where our class walked around the city going to museums and cathedrals where we learned about the history/people of Valencia. In another class “Hispanic Cinema,” we watched a variety of Spanish films from the past and present. For my Spanish class, we took a field trip, cooked the famous Valencian paella, and the best part, got to eat our creation. There are many other fun classes that the university offers, and if I could take all of them, I would have! I became really close with the people in my API program. From going on trips to different cities, grabbing a bite to eat, or sailing a boat; we always had a great time. I am so lucky they are a part of my life and I would not trade my experience for anything!
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