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My favorite Pictures and Memories

Here is a glimspe into some of my favorite moments from the trip starting with my wonderful host mom and host sister as well as my incredible roommate!

Trip to Mallorca

We visited Mallorca as a group for our long weekend trip. The scenery was absolutely gorgeous and the water was crystal clear.

Trip to Lagos

We took another long weekend trip to Lagos, Portugal. We got to kayak in the ocean and saw the most incredible rock formations.

Our Tour Guide Alejandro

We had the best tour guide named Alejandro. He was so knowledgable and taught us so many interesting things. We loved him so much that we decided to get t-shirts with his face printed on them.

The dreaded last days

Here is a photo from our last day in Sevilla before we returned to Madrid. We went on a group shopping trip and walked around the city center.

Benefits to Immersion

Here are some of the incredible benefits of immersion

Learning on the Spot

You pick up on new terms very quickly because you are speaking in real time, and in real settings.

Colloquial Terms

You learn colloquial terms and you stray away from the textbook version of the language.

Gaining confidence

You gain so much confidence in your ability to speak and interact with people.

Deeper Connections

You form deeper connections with people around you because you speak the same language.

The Place

You learn so much more about the place when you are not limited to English.

Quicker Learning

You learn quicker because you are using your speaking skills more often.

Authenticity

You gain a more authentic experience with the language than you would in a classroom.

Encouragment

The immersion experience encourages you to leave your comfort zone.

Why Should You Study Abroad

It is a great way to gain travel experience and practice language skills.

Especially when living with a host family. You are not only immersed in the language during daily interactions, but even at home during all meals.

Make connections around the world

Meet lots of new people in various settings.

Experience a new place

Live in a new city and familiarize yourself with the area.

More than a tourist

When you study abroad in a new place, you start to feel like a local.

Why I wanted to study abroad:

I am a Spanish major here at UGA and I knew I wanted to have the experience of learning Spanish through immersion. I took the time to explore the four different UGA in Spain programs and eventually decided that I really wanted to participate in a homestay to have the most immersive experience possible. So, I picked the UGA in Seville program which is a 6 and a half week homestay. I was really nervous going into the trip, and I was really scared that I might not get along with the family I was staying with. I was worried I'd have trouble communicating my needs and having in depth conversations. I did not know exactly what these next few weeks had in store, but I knew that I was excited.

My experience while abroad:

It was definitely an adjustment initially, it took time getting used to living in another family's house and only being able to speak Spanish at home. My roommate Fontana and I agreed that after our first in depth conversation with out host family we felt like our brains were completely fried. But we adjusted quickly. Our family treated us with so much kindness, compassion, and love. The first time we met, we all cried about how much we loved our dogs. Our host mom, Inma, is a very charismatic, lively, and loving person. She told us all about her family, interests, and hobbies. We spent many nights talking about Bridgerton and Jane Austen, her favorite book is Pride and Prejudice or Orgullo y Prejuicio. We absolutely fell in love with the city and quickly began to feel like home. We felt so accomplished when we felt more and more comfortable expressing ourselves in Spanish.

What I gained from my experience:

It was just as much of an adjustment coming home from the experience as it was arriving there. It was so nice being in a walkable city, with so many public transportation options. Coming back home to a suburban life felt like a slap in the face. However, I was so excited to see my family and get to fill them in on all the details we hadn't gotten to talk about.

Immersion
Travel Oppurtunities
Cultural Experiences

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From all over Spain

TESTIMONIALS

First hand experiences from students

I loved my experience in Paris, France. By the end of the term, I felt so much more comfortable speaking French. I knew the city like the back of my hand.

James Smith

I spent 3 months in Barcelona, Spain and I fell in love with the city. I miss it every day and I really want to move back. I am currently looking for jobs in Barcelona for when I graduate.

Kate Smith

I lived in Tokyo, Japan for 6 weeks and took classes in graphic design. It was an amazing experience and I absolutely fell in love with the culture. I had never been out of the country, but it quickly felt like a second home to me.

Claire Anderson

I went to Buenos Aires, Argentina for a whole year. The experiene completely changed my life. Coming back, I felt like a completely different person.

Dan Smith