Story Location: Spain
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Reflections from Barcelona: There鈥檚 No Right Way to Study Abroad
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Before studying abroad, I thought I had an idea of what my experience was supposed to look like. I imagined constant travel, full weekends, new friendships, and a semester that somehow had to match the stories I had heard from friends and family. Without realizing it, I created expectations based on other people鈥檚 experiences instead of allowing…
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Sevilla Intercambios: The Key to Improving My Spanish Skills and My Confidence Abroad
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My main goal for study abroad was to improve my Spanish as much as possible. I want to go into translation and interpretation, so it was important to me to talk with people outside of the classroom. Enter los intercambios. Intercambios鈥攚hich translates literally to exchanges鈥攁re events, usually hosted weekly by a bar, where people can get together and practice speaking different languages. They are great opportunities…
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Conquering Travel Anxiety with Study Abroad in Spain
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When I first arrived in Sevilla, Spain, I was so excited for everything that lay ahead of me.聽I wanted to learn as much Spanish as possible, make new friends, and enjoy everything the country had to聽offer,聽including travel.聽 I鈥檝e聽always struggled with travel-related anxiety, especially when I don’t have control over every aspect of my plans. I…
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Studying Abroad in Barcelona: A Leap of Faith
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Deciding to study abroad in Barcelona was the biggest leap of faith I have ever taken. I left behind a college where I would walk around campus and see a dozen familiar faces, surrounded by corn and highways. At Notre Dame, comfort came so easy when everything and everyone felt known. But suddenly, I was…
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A Surreal Season of Growth: My Study Abroad Experience in Seville
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Studying abroad in Seville with 海角社区 was truly one of the best time periods of my life. I honestly didn鈥檛 think I鈥檇 ever be able to do something like this鈥攂ut with God鈥檚 help, hard work, and the support of amazing people, I made it happen. Experiencing Spanish culture One of the first moments that stood…
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Study Abroad and Assimilation: Worth the Effort
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鈥淚 haven鈥檛 gone there,鈥 my host-mother declared in Spanish one night early in my study abroad experience. We were eating dinner together, and I was sharing my plans to go to a restaurant the next day with a few of my friends that I had made while studying in Sevilla, Spain. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a place for…
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Learning to Slow Down in Seville
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Expectations as a senior going abroad Going abroad as a senior, I assumed most of my growing and learning was behind me. After all, I had already navigated the challenges of college and even studied abroad in Spain. Surely, this experience in Seville would be a breeze鈥攁n opportunity to refine my Spanish and enjoy the…
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Rely on Your Anchor: One Key to Adjusting Abroad
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Everyone has an anchor. An interest, hobby, activity, or passion that tethers them to comfort. Some people have had the same anchor their whole life, and some spend years figuring out what it is. These anchors are essential as a mental reset, no matter where you are or what emotions you are feeling. Navigating Culture…
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A Foodie鈥檚 Dream Experience
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Food has always been an interesting topic for me. It was one of the driving factors of my decision to study abroad. The opportunity to experience new cultural diets and tastes all over Europe was hard to pass up. While I knew that I would be able to further my learning and interest on my…
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The Benefits of Cultural Immersion
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One day my roommate (and now lifelong friend) Joyce, went out to find a pastry shop to get a treat. We found two rivaling bakeries across the street from one another. One barely had anyone in it, the other was packed. The packed bakery was the one we were planning to go to, but the…
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