Returning to Spain ~John Rose, Santander and Granada, Spain

Studying abroad was always an option in the schools I’ve attended, and I figure everyone that is in college is aware what studying abroad is in some sense. Ever since high school I knew I would devote my life to studying languages. In my sophomore year I was really interested in studying abroad but had never lived away from home, so I decided to test it out and go away for the summer to Spain; a country I have always been interested in but never experienced. In high school I did a foreign exchange to Italy and have traveled within the states, so I had an idea of how things would go down.

I studied at the Universidad Internacional Menéndez Pelayo (UIMP), in Santander, Spain. I literally lived alongside a beach and walked to school. I made two friends who happened to attend CSI and whom I still hang out with today (if we happen to be in the same country at the same time, that is). Many other students from other countries were there, and, surprisingly, spoke perfect English. Finding out that Europeans (in general) know more languages than Americans only made me want to work harder at learning about other cultures. Between preparing 8 pounds of guacamole for students who had no clue what it was or how to pronounce it, to making up stories in my grammar class in order to practice new verb tenses, I had a blast. Everyone says culture shock can scare people and make it difficult to enjoy yourself in a foreign country. For me and the other people I studied with, we seemed to adapt pretty well. As long as one is open to different things, it shouldn’t be hard. The issue I had was the reverse culture shock, which is not mentioned as much. When I came home I would criticize things in America and found it a bit odd being back home. Once I got over the fact I wasn’t in Spain and accepted the differences, I decided I needed to go back.

In Santander I got to experience life away from the states and the dorm life, something that I don’t get here. However, it was only a month, and I didn’t get to meet as many locals as I wanted nor did I have a full sense of freedom in the dorms…I needed more. Two friends and I looked all over for study abroad programs. Some were cheap but didn’t count for college credits. After searching I found the CEA study abroad program. It was a good price and would get me classes that will help towards my major. It even had a business class for my friend to take, either in English or Spanish depending on a student’s level.

While in Granada (a city located in the very south of Spain), I lived in an apartment with my friends and another American. I learned to live on my own, and, surprisingly,  I’m not too bad at cooking. This experience helped me think of things in a positive light, something I haven’t always done in the past. This time I was able to interact with more Spaniards and really become immersed in the culture. Living alone I had the true “typical” college experience of going to parties and being responsible for everything without my parents advice; even though they were just a phone call away. Only it wasn’t so typical for the fact that I was in a different country, experiencing things my friends upstate would never see. A month before leaving to go home me and a bunch of other students were worrying; we didn’t want to leave. To be honest, it’s hard to say exactly what I loved about Spain or studying abroad so much, but studying abroad creates this new feeling, this new high that you can’t compare to anything else in life except maybe love.

I laugh to myself because as I write this at 2 AM, normally when a Spaniard goes out to the discoteca, I am instead making sure I have everything ready to go back for the second semester; a decision I made on Christmas. This time it won’t be as planned as I’m without a program to guide me. For most of my life I figured I would teach Spanish in my old high school doing what I love. After my experiences in Spain, I can’t tell where I’m going to end up or what I’ll be doing and I’m learning to be okay with that. My new goal this semester is to speak only Spanish (maybe some Italian) and visit some other countries across Europe. In my mind there’s no reason or excuse not to study abroad; trust me, I’ve thought it through thoroughly and still can’t think of one.

España…¡VENGA! ~Ryan Weitzel, Santander, Spain

Hello from Spain!

My name is Ryan Weitzel, and I´m currently involved in a one month study abroad program in Santander, Spain. Hopefully after having read a bit about the different programs offered through CSI you´ll take advantage of one of these great experiences.  Study abroad programs are one of the best ways to see the world, meet people, and learn a new language.

I found out about the Center for International Studies at CSI during my fall semester of 2011.   I had just started taking Spanish 113 at that point, and I was also trying to pick my major.  After taking Spanish 113 and coming to the realization that I enjoyed learning this new language, I decided that I wanted to do a study abroad program. After looking over the many different programs, I decided that a summer in Spain was the one for me.  I then prepared for my trip by taking Spanish 114 during the winter semester, and 213 during the spring.  I left from New York on the 29th of June and arrived here in Santander on the 1st of June after a short ten hour trip.

Santander is the small charming capital of the region of Spain called Cantabria.  It´s located on the North Coast of Spain and is honestly one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen.  There is also an unbelievable amount of stuff to do here.  You can go spelunking, surfing, rock-climbing, kite-surfing, snorkeling, salsa-dancing, sailing, and shopping all in the same week if you were so inclined.  It can be very relaxing or very exciting; the choice is up to you.  Also, in my opinion, the town is the perfect size; from the campus you can walk to either side of the city within 10-20 minutes.

The university I’m attending here is La Universidad Internacional Menéndez Pelayo (UIMP).  The college itself is awesome.  The classes are small and cater to all levels of Spanish, but the professors are what make it so great.  Most professors are locals but others come from all over the globe.  They are a mix of male and female, young and old. They are enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and extremely personable.  My only real worry when traveling here was interacting with the professors. I had heard that is was very formal and much different than in the States.  This is not that case; I´ve never been so comfortable with my instructors.  The classes are fun and interesting, too.  Language class is from 9am-1pm on Monday-Friday and the rest of the classes you get to choose once you get here.

Although most of my friends here stay in the dorms on campus, I chose to do a homestay.  The dorms are really nice - they have security, they´re clean and they also have common areas where students can meet up to hang out or study.  If you can though, I´d go with a homestay. It´s much more personal, and I think you get a better taste of the culture.  I stay with an older lady by the name of Julia, and I´m only a ten minute walk from campus.  She makes me breakfast in the morning, and she also does my laundry every two days.  She´s extremely sweet, incredibly kind, and I think she really likes me. She speaks no English, but we have a lot of fun communicating with each other.  We get by without any problems whatsoever.  The language barrier is actually a whole lot of fun.  I will admit, it was a little awkward for the first two days, but I settled in right after that and now I´d have it no other way.  I´m able to come and go as I please, and all she asks is that I don´t waste electricity and that I lock the door when I leave.  All my friends that are doing homestays have fantastic families as well; the families do this because they like having people in their homes.

If you have even the slightest itch to study abroad you should absolutely do it.  I´ve only been here two weeks, and I´ve already made a ridiculous amount of friends from all over the world.  The only unfortunate part is that now I have to come up with a way to visit all these people once we return back to our homes.  But honestly, I love exploring, traveling, eating, drinking, and studying with all these different people.  I mean, how many chances will you have to fly to Milan, Italy for the weekend because one of your Polish friends mentioned it at dinner the week before?  If you don´t break out of your shell now, then you never will. Take a chance, be brave, and do it now while you´re still impressionable.  Well, I guess that’s all for now…time to take the ferry to Somo with the Dutch girls to surf. ¡VENGA!