An adequate description of Spain tends to remain rather elusive. And, as is the case in every instance when adequate description proves too difficult for our own humble words, our best bet is to rely on none other than Sir Elton John:

"They say Spain is pretty, though I've never been Well Daniel says it's the best place that he's ever been Oh and he should know, he's been there enough" (www.eltonography.com )

Simply put, Spain is one of the single most alluring countries in the world, and whether you're visiting for just a few days or planning on making it your study abroad destination for a summer, semester, or year, the benefits you'll reap and the new ways in which you will see the world will enrich your life to an extent you never thought possible.

Spain is located on the Iberian Peninsula, so not only does it have coastlines on both the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean, but it borders with France and Portugal and is just a quick trip across the Strait of Gibraltar to Morocco. As a result, Spain has been a major player in the colonial endeavors of the European enterprise and has been greatly influenced by the invading armies of North Africa, particularly that of the Moors and their strongly Muslim culture.

Modern-day Spain is a fascinating country that holds tightly to its traditional ways of life while being very much a part of the culture and political life of greater Europe. One of the first things visitors notice is the relaxed pace at which life is lived in Spain. Everything, it seems, happens a little later and a little slower -- especially when it comes to work schedules and meals. "Many shops and some museums (though relatively few other businesses) still split their hours into two distinct periods of opening with a two or three hour break in the middle; a paseo (stroll) in the early evening remains a common custom in many smaller cities and to some extent even in the larger ones; the dinner hour is the latest in Europe, typically about 10 p.m.; nightlife begins accordingly late, with many dance clubs (even in relatively small cities) opening at midnight and staying open until dawn; in Madrid in the summer there is nothing unusual about a live musical performance being scheduled for one or two o'clock in the morning" (www.en.wikipedia.org). While there is often an adjustment period that visitors go through when it comes to adopting to the rhythms of Spanish life, they generally tend to find it much more appealing than the hustle-and-bustle with which they are familiar.

The cities, particularly Barcelona and Madrid, offer students all the opportunities of attending college in two of the greatest towns in the world, but without the exhausting pace that often goes along with living there. And in addition to the benefits of the cities themselves, the colleges and universities in Spain are excellent. From the Universitat de Barcelona to the Universidad Carlos III in Madrid, Spain offers enough of a variety of top-tier schools to satisfy even the most demanding students.

And in the end, as always, Sir Elton's lyrics are right on: Very few people visit Spain only once. There is just some intangible magnetism about it that keeps people coming back again and again. And after all, if it's good enough for Elton, it's certainly good enough for us. Who are we, after all, to argue with the Rocket Man?

» GLOBAL LEARNING SEMESTERS: Study Spanish Language and Culture in Spain while immersing yourself in an exciting community

• A wide array of Spanish language and content courses to choose from and customize your curriculum
• A semester or summer in a historically rich host city
• Co-curricular activities and travel linked to high quality academic coursework
• Inclusive Fees and Great Program Value