Study Abroad in Sevilla, Spain

My experience with ISA in Spain was life changing. I was nervous at first, leaving the country with no family and no friends, but my expectations were exceeded. I chose to live in an apartment and the set up was amazing. Everything that we needed was provided and if there was anything else that we wanted, the ISA staff figured out a way to make us happy. The classes provided were both fun and educational, and I gained real knowledge about Spain's history and advanced my use of Spanish language. My favorite part of this program was the provided excursions to different cities in Spain and Morocco. The transportation and organization was all planned for us and our only job was to experience new culture and have fun. The on-site staff was like my family away from home. They were willing to do whatever it took to make us feel comfortable, safe, and happy. (Even if it meant coming to your hotel room every ten minutes to check on you and bring you gatorade when you are sick :)) Overall, the only complaint I have is that I couldn't stay forever.

My time in Sevilla, Spain with ISA was incredible. There were always weekly activities and excursions for us to do, so you can never bored! There are a variety of classes you can take too! Since I was so busy, I barely had time to miss home. My program was so welcoming and helpful, transitioning to Spain was so easy. I lived with a host family, and my program did an excellent job finding us a great Host Mom. My roommate was gluten free, and my host Mom always cooked her separate gluten free dishes. Seville is a great city for anyone who is looking for an authentic Spanish experience. I highly recommend this program, especially in the Spring because of all the fun festivals and holidays there are!

During my stay in Seville, I lived with a host mom who was amazing. She was the best cook I've ever met. I had classes everyday which were so fun. Everyday may seem like a lot but when you're in Spain, nothing gets you down. I met many Americans that are currently close friends. I walked and biked everywhere which was an awesome way to explore the city. My ISA program took me on many excursions that allowed me to see many parts of Spain for cheap. While there I went with a friend to Ibiza, Spain for a couple of days which was one of my favorite trips. Getting around the country is easy and fun, you just have to be flexible and calm. I would travel back there in a heart beat.

I studied abroad in Sevilla, Spain during the spring 2014 semester. I went through the study abroad program ISA (International Studies Abroad). ISA was so helpful in getting me situated in Spain and also in answering any questions that I had prior to leaving and while I was in Spain. Living in Spain was challenging at first because my Spanish was not very well. However, I lived in a host family (whom I LOVE) and they helped me SO much with my Spanish. It was incredible how much my language skills improved while I was over there. Also, my host family was so polite and nice and their home was very clean. They were a lot of fun and told my roommate and I all of the best places to go eat tapas!!

Studying abroad in Sevilla, España was the absolute highlight of my college career. I loved walking over Puente de Triana and watching the sun rise over the cathedral every morning, in addition to the heavenly scent of the azahar blossoms. Though my absolute favorite memory of studying in Sevilla was staying up for 26 hours to watch the processions during Semana Santa fueled solely by café con leche y churros con chocolate! The ISA program administration was fantastic! They made such an effort to create excursions and cultural experiences for an authentic Sevillan experience!

ISA Sevilla was truly a liberating experience full of constant exposure to a new interpretation of Spanish culture. I felt safe and independent on my own, but having on-site staff guiding us and informing us while on excursions boosted my confidence. Being given a home-stay also made me feel at home, enjoy home-cooked meals, and help me adjust to the new area.

There is something incredibly serene about waking up and walking in the cool of the Sevillian summer mornings and drinking a coffee on the river. I was always a person to keep to a routine and found something as simple as that capable of keeping me sane during what was one of the most fun and adventurous summers of my life.
I engaged with as many locals as I could, especially my host mom, Josefa, in order to learn more about the specific culture and accent of Sevilla. ISA helped facilitate interactions and experiences with the community, which strengthened our ties and memories in the city.
It was difficult to get into the swing of things at first, but as the program sped up and drew to a close, I realized how applicable "Carpe Diem" was. It helped me get over any worry, hesitation, or fear that I had because #YOSO (You Only Sevilla Once). Which will hopefully end up being untrue because I love Sevilla and definitely want to return.
The amount of personal growth a person goes through when studying abroad is mind-boggling. I developed more in my core values, beliefs and critical thinking because I was put in situations that necessitated me doing something.
My highlights would be the weekend trips that we would go on. We went to Tarifa, Spain and Lagos, Portugal and both were incredible. It was a small group of us on both trips and it led to greater bonding and sweeter memories.
There is truly nothing like an immersion program to help you lose yourself in a foreign world. But when you find yourself again, back in your home country, you can see that you are a new and greater person for having lived every moment.

Sevilla is an incredible city, filled with so much culture and history. ISA did a great job organizing the program so that we got to experience the history in unique ways - like kayaking down the river that Columbus and other famous explorers sailed down during Spain's Golden Age. In addition, the classes I took at the University were totally manageable and ISA professors understood that we were there to learn outside of the classroom too, so we had lots of free time to travel and really experience the culture in which we lived. The excursions ISA organized were also great as they took us to many other wonderful cities in the region, especially some where we might not have gone on our own - like Jerez, which is famous for its production of Spanish sherry. All in all, ISA in Sevilla was a great program and a perfect fit. I definitely made more than a lifetime of memories while abroad and I cannot wait until I have the opportunity to go abroad again!