LITA: two incredible, unforgettable summers

I was a student in LITA’s North program in 2017 after my freshman year of high school and also on the South program in 2019 after my junior year of high school. Having done the program twice, I can honestly say that LITA is a wonderful, fully engaging, indescribable experience and I got a tremendous amount out of it.

I had traveled significantly before having come to LITA but this program changed my perspective on what it means to be a traveler as opposed to a tourist in a foreign country. This program is truly unique compared to other programs in that the only country of focus is Spain. Upon being accepted to the program, I immediately saw that program director Jordan Romm was deeply involved in the process of creating the program and had a strong passion for Spain, its history, culture and people. He was able to place me in an internship that capitalized on my interests and challenged my language ability both summers. Throughout the programs, I truly felt like a participant in Spanish culture and felt welcomed by everyone along the way, which made me want to further immerse myself in the language and culture. LITA emphasizes that the immersion is the prerogative of the student, meaning each student has control over how much Spanish they speak and how much they interact with the Spanish people they meet along the way.

I also have met one of my best friends through these trips and we ended up at the same college together. I am now a second year in college and am pursuing a Spanish major. I will forever be grateful to LITA for the confidence in my Spanish ability the program gave me as well as the many connections and friendships I made along the way.