What I Learned by Michelle Taylor

To any future study abroad students I would say the very cliche phrase: don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. You are going abroad to learn new things and have experiences you can’t have here in the States. That being said, having ties to home helped me a lot. I would set aside time each weekend to call home and I brought a couple of mementos from…

What Historical Sites or Landmarks Have You Visited and What Did You Learn? by Eva Tryon

One of my favorite parts about studying abroad in France was the ability to travel to other cities and countries. “ La Toussaint” is a holiday in France when all the schools and universities across the country get a week-long vacation, typically at the end of October. A friend from my program and I went to Italy during the break. Throughout the course of the week, we traveled to five…

Reflection by Caroline Benson

Overall, my study abroad experience was amazing. I was able to learn so much and make so many new friends. I lived in a very small town in Spain and stayed with a host family, with the goal of improving my Spanish. I think that if the main thing you want to get out of studying abroad is learning the language, this is the way you should do it. Most…

Culture, Customs, & Tradition by Caroline Benson

One thing I love most about living in Spain is all of the festivals. Just in my small town, Trujillo, we had a number of really fun festivals on the weekends, in which people came from all over to attend. In February it was Carnaval, which is celebrated with bull runs throughout the small streets and in the plaza. This was a time I definitely experienced culture shock. People ran…

Farewell Trujillo by Lindsay Stravolo

Today marks the end of the program and I cannot help but feel beyond blessed for the entire experience. Trujillo is such an amazing place and will forever have a special place in my heart. I have created relationships with my host family, fellow classmates, locals, professors, and other travelers across the world. I encourage future students to immerse themselves in the culture as much as they can. Don’t travel…

Semester at Sea Traditions by Abby Runkle

I am currently aboard the MV World Odyssey with Semester at Sea! The program has sailed for sixty years, and I am currently on its 132nd voyage. Over these years, the atmosphere and traditions have stood the test of time and will continue for many more to come. I have highlighted some of the amazing days that are held throughout the voyage. Neptune Day From early wake-ups to a cold…

London Reflection by Daniella Johansson

After three months in London, I have learned so much. As the city is filled with diversity and is essentially a melting pot, many different opportunities have arisen that I am not quite used to. I have tried about every nationality of food and learned more about global health than I could have ever imagined. Though, with interacting among different nationalities, there has been a lot of confusion as the…

Advice for Future Students by Sydney Anderson

As my study abroad experience comes to an end, I feel like I have a lot of advice for future students, especially ones who will be living in Trujillo, Spain! My biggest advice is to really put yourself out there. It may feel uncomfortable enough, just coming on this trip, but make sure you do everything you can and meet everyone. You are only abroad for a short period of…