As someone who has experienced the ups and downs and in bet-weens of study abroad, I am here to tell you to do it. Go abroad. Go overseas. See another part of the world and experience another culture.Before I went abroad, I was really nervous. I had a

lot of anxiety about everything from finances to finding all my classes. I knew that it was going to be a challenge but I also knew that I would regret it for the rest of my life if I didn’t go abroad. So I talked with my advisers and applied for scholarships and read like 50 different blog posts on packing for going abroad; I was also terrified that I would forget something and be hopeless. But I said my goodbyes and boarded my plane and I can honestly say that it was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I felt like I was in a dream. A really cold dream because it was January in Spain but nevertheless a wonderful dream. Spain had so much to teach me about Spanish culture and the language but also about myself. I had deemed myself fairly independent going away to college in another state but being in a foreign country where they spoke another language was a different kind of independence all together. And I found my pace and got into a rhythm and before I knew it I was living in Spain, taking public transit to school, studying and exploring my beautiful host country and Spain as whole. Was I lonely sometimes, yes. This experience but a lot of things into perspective for me. I was able to experience and learn about multiple different cultures, each with their own similarities and differences on what the value the most and how they structure their lives. While abroad, I traveled from city to city trying new foods and variations depending on the region. I learned different dialects and heard languages being spoken that I’d never heard before.I explored with new friends and even traveled by myself to different countries, safely and with situational awareness of course. Through study abroad and my specific program I was able to take Spanish and Latin dance classes as well as a sailing class where I learned to sail on the Mediterranean Sea. I was also able to travel to Morocco for a week with my study abroad program. There are so many unique and inspiring adventures that await abroad. I never knew there were so many things that I could do and get academic credit for while I was abroad. If you’re a prospective student reading this, I as you this. Where will your next adventure take you?

Studying abroad with the USAC Alicante program was certainly the best experience of my life. I was able to become much more independent, see new cultures and historically significant places, as well as grow intellectually. The courses I took in Alicante

were all directly applicable to my major and degree, allowing me to stay on track while learning in a setting that was not offered at my home university. Studying as a junior, I finished my Spanish degree while abroad, and I definitely advanced more during my months abroad than during the years of Spanish classes I had previously taken. It was great getting to know so many other students from across the US and Spain. We all had something to learn from one another and I am thankful for the friendships that I made. The local USAC staff is also amazing and are there for anything from a fun conversation to helping you in tough situations. They ensure that everyone is taken care of and safe. The field trips and studies that the staff took us on were a great combination of educational and fun because not a single thing was boring and we were able to learn so much about different areas and the history of Spain. Our field study to Morocco was my favorite trip that I took as it was so culturally different and something I hadn't even thought of doing before. Alicante is perfectly positioned to allow people to travel both within, and away from the city. It has great public transportation as well as train systems and an international airport. Staying in Alicante, one won't run out of things to do whether hiking to the castles, going to the beach, or perusing the markets, but it is very easy and relatively cheap to travel. I am very thankful for the experiences that I received through studying with the USAC Alicante program and I would enthusiastically recommend it to other students wanting to study abroad.

Alicante is such a great city. It has everything a student needs to flourish and grow: great bars, cafes, tapas bars, the Mediterranean Sea, hundreds of international students, cheap living situations, and the Spanish language. It is a great city if you

want a smaller city and a great place to practice your Spanish. USAC does a wonderful job of providing resources for the students to make them feel comfortable. In addition, they have a lot of connections within the community if students want to work or volunteer somewhere. The professors are very experienced and provide excellent support to learn the language. Looking back, I would definitely study abroad in Alicante. However, instead of going for a semester, I would want to go for a year. Everyone thinking about extending their time abroad should do it. How often do you get to attend a university? How often do you get to live abroad? How often to you get to do BOTH and be able to live abroad and attend a foreign university with other international students.