Why did you choose this program?
I chose CEA because of how affordable and helpful they are. When I was first looking into studying abroad I originally wanted to go to Barcelona but after reading CEA brochures and their website it was clear to me that Seville was a better fit.
The classes offered through CEA fit my requirements at my home university because CEA offers so many classes for every subject.
What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?
CEA was extremely helpful in all aspects. They assisted me with getting started and how to apply to the program, they were very thorough on what paperwork I needed to fill out, how to apply for my passport & visa, and were very helpful in choosing housing and my academics.
CEA emailed me at least once a week to remind me what my next steps were in completing the process, but I organized the paperwork and everything on my own. Of course they were always there to help me if I ever had any questions or started to panic.
For programs that need to apply for a visa, CEA is extremely helpful with that. They offer something called a "Batch Visa" where CEA will apply for you, you just have to send them your paperwork. It's really helpful because then I didn't have to travel to the nearest Spanish Consulate which saves you a lot of time and money.
What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?
One piece of advice I have is to always say yes. Say yes to trying new foods, going to cultural events, meeting new people, and traveling to new places. Take advantage of the opportunities that CEA provides like their excursions and cultural activities. I never would have imagined that I would have traveled to Morocco, Africa but I'm so happy I was provided the opportunity.
What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?
An average day in the CEA program includes 2-4 hours of class in the morning, depending on your schedule, and then free time the rest of the day. CEA understands that you're there to travel and explore a new culture and city. While they still take their academics seriously, they know how to have fun.
Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it and/or how did your views on the issue change?
My biggest fear was being away from my family and friends for so long. I had never been that far away or gone for that long before so I was nervous I wouldn't be able to contact them a lot.
I realized once I got to Spain that even though we were 4,000 miles apart, they were always with me. I overcame it because I knew that everyone would still be there when I got back and I frequently texted with my family no matter where I was in Europe.
What was the most important thing you learned while abroad?
The most important thing I learned abroad is how important it is to experience other cultures on your own. The lessons I have learned from immersing myself into a foreign culture and being able to thrive on my own was incredible and life-changing.