USAC Spain: San Sebastián - Spanish Language & Psychology

I learned how to surf, which has always been a bucket list item for me. Our surf instructors were amazing and were amazing to learn from. I also got to practice my Spanish with them. They are trilingual, as are many people in the area; they know Spanish, Basque, and English. The weather was absolutely beautiful for the month of July. I got to take weekend trips to beautiful nearby areas and got to go see the running of the bulls. My Spanish class was very well taught, and my professor was amazing.

I went abroad Spring 2024 and genuinely have not stopped talking about my experience since. Studying abroad in Spain was life-changing and I grew in ways I didn’t know I needed to. I was born and raised in Nevada, and had only been out of the country to Mexico once before my experience. Moving to Spain, being immersed in the Basque culture, changed my life. I was able to use and practice my Spanish daily, learn about an entire new culture, become self-sustaining and independent, and truly gain an immense appreciation for the world. I recommend this experience to every one I meet. In San Sebastián, I got to live 30 steps from the ocean, surf in between classes, participate in cultural activities like Día de San Sebastián, and eat some of the best food of my life. The area is so extremely walkable, I got to live in Gros, which is actually the neighborhood furthest from the school. I walked to school every day, along the ocean, past the beautiful buildings and architecture, and past the student’s favorite school snack, tortilla from Bar Nestor! I could not recommend studying abroad more, especially if you want to completely grow as a person and truly appreciate time independently. My USAC group still plans trips together until this day, and those relationships will last a lifetime! Thank you USAC!

I was the only Japanese student participating in USAC's San Sebastian program. Living in Spain with English-speaking friends and facing a language barrier was a difficult experience at the time, but I also learned a lot, and I can say that those were the days I worked hardest and felt the most confident of my life. Everything was new during my time in Spain, and I studied hard every day and communicated with many different people. My time in Spain influenced my career path and way of thinking, and I began to dream of becoming someone who can be active internationally. Even after returning home from Spain, I continue to keep in touch with my friends and teachers. I used to be shy, but now I can speak three or more languages ​​and I feel like I've discovered a new side of myself. I'm grateful to have been able to spend such wonderful days in the beautiful city of San Sebastian. I'm glad I chose USAC's program!