Sevilla, Spain

Study Abroad Reflection:

For my study abroad experience, I went to the city of Sevilla, a country in southern Spain. I arrived in Spain mid January and left mid May, leaving me to live abroad for around four months. My expectations were exceeded, and I left with a new perspective and so much appreciation for other cultures worldwide. I fell in love with the warmth of Sevilla, the kindness of southern Spaniards, the siesta culture, late-night dinners, the river that runs through the middle of the city, and so much more. I learned about the culture of flamenco dancing, semana santa, and the annual fair (fería). I lived in a student living facility with Spanish students from all over Spain and became accustomed to Sevilla's local foods. I was fortunate to have traveled before this experience; however, immersing myself in a country with a foreign language and culture was a new feeling. At first, I was anxious about my Spanish speaking abilities and how I would get around, but I quickly calmed down when I met my CEA program directors and the amazing teachers I had. They helped me hone my Spanish abilities while teaching me about various aspects of Spain, like the food, the culture, the literature, and the health system. My teachers took us on field trips to museums, local sites, and even their favorite restaurants. We learned how to make the traditional paella dish with artichokes, rice, chicken, and saffron. We had food tastings of cheese, olive oil, wine, and meat locally produced in Spain.

On top of my classes, I participated in an internship with a local hospital. I was the only CEA student working specifically with the hospital's Multiple Sclerosis Unit. I had an amazing team of mostly young women who were as excited to learn more from me about the United States as I was to learn more about Spain. We worked collaboratively to create an 8-week online course featured on their blog’s website to empower patients with MS or their support systems to learn more about their disease. This opportunity allowed me to work on my Spanish professionally and become exposed to international medical systems and public health initiatives. My supervisor, Dra. Sarah Eichau and her team were incredibly supportive of my efforts throughout the internship. I met with my supervisor to regularly give her updates and receive feedback while meeting with around ten specialists in the team to capture videos of their information, create infographics, and compile the content. Not only was my study abroad experience influential, but my internship gave me an invaluable opportunity to expand my knowledge and cultural competency skills.

By the end of my trip, I became familiar with my 20-minute walk from my apartment to my classes and my 20-minute bus ride to my internship, always making some impromptu stops at a bakery or shop along the way. While there was always somewhere new to explore in Sevilla, I also had the opportunity to travel to nearby countries with completely different cultures. I visited places like Paris, France, Lisbon, Portugal, London, England, and many more. I was constantly encouraged to take advantage of my time, and I never felt like I wasted a moment, even when I was just reading a book by the river bank with my classmates. I met countless new people from my program, other programs around me, and locals who eventually became good friends to share this time with. I can proudly say that out of everywhere I visited during my study abroad, Sevilla, Spain, was always the highlight to return to. This is not to say I didn’t enjoy the other places but to emphasize that it felt like home. I enjoyed experiencing the new flavors of food, the changing temperatures of the south, the astonishing architecture heavily influenced by the Muslims, the customs of apparel and more. Without this study abroad experience and internship opportunity, I couldn’t have learned as much about myself and another culture as I did in Sevilla.