University Studies Abroad Consortium

This program was amazing, I stayed for a full year, so I experienced two different cohorts of students and each group was fun and had unique experiences. The program helps place you with a family that they work and they make sure the families are open and receptive to students, my host mom was amazing and I still talk to her a year later:) the classes give you hands on opportunities such as going to marches for activism class and interviewing local activists for a research study. It also can be hard to get close with locals your age and other students from Uruguay because the classes are all USAC students. There are different avenues that you can use to make friends you just have to make more of an effort to push yourself out there.

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 decided to study abroad one day when I felt stuck in my college town. I was looking for something new and decided to look into it. That’s when I realized Italy would be a great fresh new start making new friends experiencing new culture trying new food and so on. I got the chance to redo the way I think and experience life and for that I’m forever grateful.