Studying abroad in Salamanca, Spain, was a somewhat impulsive decision that I made, but it ended up bringing me so many unexpected long-term benefits: like completing my Spanish major and landing a teaching job after graduation.
Studying abroad can be scary, and having a language exchange with native speakers might seem even worse, but in my study abroad semester in Salamanca, Spain, a language exchange helped me feel much more connected to the entire experience.
While I was studying abroad in Salamanca, Spain, I experienced the horrifying ordeal of being sent home for the COVID-19 pandemic on top of ordinary challenges like homesickness. Not all your memories will be positive, and that’s okay! The friends I made helped me through everything.
A study abroad experience isn’t one person, one place, or even one experience. It’s a culmination of everything that results in something you’ll never forget. My time in Salamanca, Spain left me with memories I’ll have for the rest of my life, and everyone involved in the program helped achieve that.
During my time abroad, food was always more than just food. It was a chance to be with friends, have conversations with locals, learn culture, and, in the end, say goodbye to the most important people to me in the program.
When I went on my study abroad program to Salamanca last spring, a few landmarks like the Puente Romano helped guide me through the city, experience some of Spain’s extensive history and culture, and unite with all the wonderful friends I made abroad.
