Posted By: Career Enrichment Network
Applications for Study Abroad are open! If you are interested in going abroad find out more here!
Anna Lombardo, English Major, spent last Spring studying abroad in Seville, Spain. Read on, to learn more about Anna’s experience!
Photos and content contributed by Anna Lombardo.
There are several reasons why I chose southern Spain and specifically Seville as my location to study. First, I wanted to go to Spain because I had taken Spanish before, but had not taken Spanish courses at the collegiate level, and wanted to return to the language. With that in mind, I was really drawn to the culture of southern Spain– with promises of flamenco (later learning that the strain of flamenco called sevillanas is actually what is danced there) and of warm weather in mind. Seville is special for these reasons, but also I think for its proximity to northern Africa, which in the context of our international business program made it an especially interesting location to learn about. The city is filled with immigrants from Africa looking for a better life in Europe; in Seville, many of them sell souvenir items (like sunglasses and scarves) in the center of town or sell packs of tissues to cars at busy intersections. The city is a really cool fusion of Europe and Africa.
This particular program appealed to me because it offers a really amazing 4-day trip to Morocco included in the program fee. Again, because of our proximity to Africa, the trip was not far: a 2 hour bus ride, then a 30 minute ferry to Morocco. Though northern African culture and southern Spanish culture are clearly similar, it is amazing the difference in the quality of life between the two. We completed this trip through a program called Morocco Exchange, and through it we were able to talk with Moroccan citizens about the differences between our lives and theirs.
I chose to go abroad during the spring semester. I love the fall at Penn State, not only because of football but also because it is still warm and I think the campus is beautiful during this time. I was not too upset about missing the cold “spring” semester, and in fact was happy to be away for a Pennsylvania winter and instead spend my time in sunny Seville (though January and February in Seville do get chilly at times, especially at night!). I was a little sad to be missing THON this year. I am in a THON special interest organization, and have gotten to be close with the people in it. I kept in touch through Facebook and sites like Onward State, but I still felt distant from it, though I will say that being abroad and talking with students from other universities gave me a broader perspective on the many different forms of community service.
One really cool thing I got to do this semester was volunteer at a local elementary school, where for one hour per week, I would help the kids (between 7 and 8 years old) learn English. It was funny because the kids knew I didn’t speak a whole lot of Spanish, but didn’t realize that I was from the United States until the end of the semester. But it was still fun to go in each week and have the kids speak to me in English as best as they could.
Another thing that I did was sign up to receive an intercambio. This means “exchange” in English, and in the program we used it to refer to a culture and language partner who was born and raised in our host country. My intercambio was a student at the University of Seville, and we got together roughly once per week to spend time together. The goal was for each person to improve their respective second language– for me, Spanish, and for my intercambio, English. We were partnered up through CIEE, and were also provided by CIEE with opportunities to win tickets to different activities: movies, flamenco shows, etc. My intercambio was great, always willing to make plans, and though her English was definitely better than my Spanish, I really benefited from the experience.
Before going to Spain, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do after college. As of right now, I unfortunately am not too much surer about this. I will say that I have more confidence now about returning to Europe and that if I do end up wanting to go back and teach (or do whatever it might be), I feel better prepared to do this having already lived there once. There are a lot of opportunities to teach in Spain (and other European countries as well), where they are eager for native English speakers to work in schools and to tutor privately. I am still trying to decide whether this is something I really want to do, or if I would enjoy it just because I would be living in Spain again.
I have always also had an interest in writing. I am still not sure where I could find steady employment doing this, but I had a great time writing a study abroad blog this past semester and wish I had more time to share my traveling experiences through writing and photographs.
I was fortunate enough to receive Enrichment Funding from the College of the Liberal Arts, which covered the cost of my plane tickets into and out of Spain. The decision to go to Spain, and to study abroad at all, was partly inspired and very much encouraged by a conversation with my academic advisor during the previous spring (2014). I was ahead on credits, and had an extra semester on my hands– to graduate early, to complete an internship, or, as my advisor suggested, to go abroad. I am so happy that I made the decision that I did.
For one thing, it made me value my courses at Penn State even more than I did before. I personally did not think the courses at my university abroad were particularly challenging, and because I am a person that really likes to be challenged, I was sometimes frustrated that the courses in Spain were not as stimulating as the ones at Penn State. I wish I had had the confidence to choose a more rigorous program, though I do recognize that it is easy to say that after having already completed a successful semester in a foreign country. It was scary enough (before going abroad) for me to think about being alone, thousands of miles from home, let alone completing extremely difficult coursework on top of that. But, again, having already finished my program and having the privilege to reflect, it has made me realize that I love to take challenging classes and to think critically. I’m excited to return to Penn State this fall for that reason.
One other awesome thing about my program– I lived in a homestay! For me, that meant living in the extra room of a Spanish family’s home. I had a fantastic experience with my family, who not only provided all three meals and laundry but also gave me an opportunity to practice my Spanish, which improved immensely because of them. This was because they did not speak any English; so aside from being an opportunity, it was also a necessity. In order to tell them what I needed, and to make meals less awkward, I had to talk with them. This could be exhausting, but for me was also incredibly rewarding. I developed a close relationship with my host parents and plan to keep in touch with them now that the semester has ended.
In sum– because of the experiences I have had with my host family, my friends, my intercambio, my travels, and my time in an amazing city– I would say that anyone who has the time or at least an interest in going abroad should try to do it. It might be terrifying to step onto the plane that will take you away from the familiar for a few months of your life, but keep in mind all of the new people you will meet and all of the great things you will see and do. I really can’t recommend it enough, and wish I could go back and do it again.
Applications are open! All Liberal Arts students studying abroad are eligible for Enrichment Funding. To learn more, please schedule an appointment via Network Symplicity or email Jackie Smith, Global Experiences Coordinator (jds54@psu.edu) (edit)