I decided to study away for the language and cultural immersion. Since I haven’t left the continent, I needed a new far away journey for personal growth (I felt stuck in day-to-day). I chose my specific program based on my wants: 1) a Spanish speaking program (for my major) and 2) a small program for extra assistance from counselors/directors (for personal bonds).

I planned/managed my study away finances by working the entire year leading up to my program. I added everything to my savings so I wouldn’t have to limit myself while abroad (my first priority was traveling). For that reason, I did not set a budget. It sounds unreasonable, but I worked as much as possible beforehand so I would be able to do everything I wanted while abroad. Most will set a budget, but I do advise that you don’t say no to every wish you have while out there, who knows when you’ll be back! While I didn’t budget, I strongly recommend having an emergency fund. I ended up having to buy a replacement flight back home that took quite a hit to my savings (however I was still able to do all the travel I wanted since I had the cushion).

Study away benefitted my undergrad experience by making me reflect about personal and academic life back home. The academic and social environments are very different and you take away the best from both worlds (after some ups and downs). I am grateful for the semester abroad, and upon returning, feel ready to finish my undergrad back home. My classes abroad were similar to the ones here, just with the lack of English. Fully studying in Spanish has helped expand my vocabulary for my non-language major. As an International Relations major, study abroad already feels beneficial, so the language change adds a nice touch.

I strongly recommend the dorming option. Since we are commuters here at Redlands, we don’t get that experience. While Salamanca didn’t have one unified campus university, my dorm was near one of the major buildings, a student market, dining halls, and other cute shops. The ability to walk everywhere was also a nice change from the driving commute back home. While in the dorms, I got to meet local students that took me under their wing and invited me out to immerse into the student life around the city. That is my biggest piece of extra advice, trying out the dorms for one semester was very fun.

This picture was taken in Edinburgh, Scotland. I am half Scottish and lived there for 6 years as a kid, yet every time I go back I find something new and fascinating.

As a Hispanic woman who speaks fluent Spanish, it was much easier for me to communicate and feel respected by the Spaniards because I spoke to them in Spanish. Similarly, I found it easier to speak and learn Catalan. My identity as a Hispanic woman means a lot to me, so I was happy to be recognized for my identity there. This was one of the first days I was in Barcelona, and I went to Parc Güell with a friend I made. It made me feel very secure to have made a friend.

I did well academically while there, and I am proud that I could juggle my school work and social life and still be successful at both. My boyfriend studied abroad with me in Barcelona, and this picture was taken on a Seine river cruise in Paris.

My sorority sisters from Redlands were studying abroad in Salzburg, Austria, and they came to visit. It felt like a piece of home was with me in this new home I had curated, and it was a great feeling. This is a picture of my sorority sisters (and best friends) and I in Rome, because they were there coincidentally at the same time we were. We took this picture as a memory that Delta brought us together even on the other side of the world.

Sitges, Spain. It is a little beach town outside of Barcelona that felt like we were in a different country.