My life changing study abroad experience!

Studying in San Sebastián, Spain has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Not only did I get to immerse myself into Spanish culture but also the Basque culture as well which I did not know much about prior to arriving. San Sebastián offered the best of both worlds: beaches to surf as well as surrounding mountains to hike and a welcoming community that wanted to help you practice your Spanish. The location was also amazing because the French border is only a 40 minute bus ride away and the Bilbao airport is just over an hour away making it very easy and accessible to travel to other places during the semester. The city itself was also super easy to get around. The public transportation was super efficient but a lot of people including myself, loved just walking or biking to places because of the beautiful views of the ocean. Not only was the location amazing, but so were the professors and directors of USAC. From the beginning the program directors helped answer any questions that we might have about the location site and other general questions we might have about studying abroad. When I came to San Sebastián I was not super comfortable speaking Spanish, especially with other people that spoke it as their primary language but with tue constant help and support of the amazing Professors I can confidently say that my Spanish had improved so much. I also appreciated the amount of opportunities provided to immerse ourselves in the culture in San Sebastián. I had the opportunity to volunteer with an organization that read stories to kids each week. Through this I got to give back to the community but also learn more Spanish and even some things in Basque as well. Another amazing opportunity to learn more about the Basque Culture specifically was the Basque Folkdance and Basque Cuisine class which gave us the opportunity to experience different parts of the culture aside from just the language. I also had the ability to learn new skills such as surfing thanks to the surfing class that was an option which was a fun laid back class that got students out of their houses and out experiencing what San Sebastián has to offer. I also made lifelong friends and connections with people that I would have never have had the opportunity to make prior to this one experience. Overall, my study abroad experience in San Sebastián has been life changing. I am so happy with the location I chose and came out knowing more about a different culture, language and myself!