Amiya’s Spring Semester in Barcelona
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Able to discover what an AIFS Overseas program in Spain is like? We lately linked with Amiya from Howard College, who studied overseas in Barcelona throughout the spring semester.
Uncover how Amiya’s examine overseas expertise in Barcelona helped her discover Europe and develop a world perspective!
Selecting a Research Overseas Vacation spot
Selecting a examine overseas vacation spot typically is dependent upon quite a lot of elements, together with cultural pursuits, language, and educational issues. Hear why Amiya selected Barcelona:
“One in all my lifelong targets is to grow to be fluent in Spanish, so finding out in a Spanish-speaking nation was a prime precedence for me. What drew me to Barcelona particularly was the unimaginable range of issues to do and see. It really provides a bit little bit of every part. From the mountains of Montserrat to Barceloneta Seaside and the full of life city heart, Barcelona gave me entry to a spread of landscapes and experiences.
I additionally knew I needed to check in a metropolis with a powerful city really feel, and Barcelona delivered. It has the fast-paced power of an enormous metropolis, however loads of room for exploration, nature, and cultural immersion. I’d completely suggest Barcelona, particularly for individuals who get pleasure from metropolis life however nonetheless need the choice to go on adventures. It’s additionally an incredible spot for anybody who loves nightlife.”
Teachers Overseas
While you examine overseas, you possibly can profit from a totally new educational surroundings. Take distinctive courses, dive into varied international views, and benefit from the perks of a world campus. Under, Amiya explains her educational expertise in Spain:
“I attended the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Total, I had a very nice expertise with the varsity… I actually loved my courses overseas. All of my courses had been filled with worldwide college students. I discovered it attention-grabbing that a few of my professors weren’t from Barcelona both. I had professors from many areas in Spain, and some Professors from Germany as nicely.”
Hear Amiya clarify how her examine overseas courses in comparison with courses at her house college within the U.S.:
“Whereas I studied overseas, a lot of my courses had been hands-on and interactive, which was an enormous change from the extra lecture-based programs I’m used to at house. Again in my house [university], courses sometimes have 30–50 college students, and the lecture rooms are sometimes massive lecture halls. In distinction, my courses overseas had been capped at round 30 college students, making a extra intimate and fascinating studying surroundings.
Most professors understood that we had been examine overseas college students hoping to expertise the tradition past the classroom, so the workload was manageable. I used to be capable of keep on prime of my assignments whereas nonetheless having fun with my weekends for journey and exploration.
One in all my favourite elements of the tutorial expertise was the pliability in scheduling. I used to be in a position to decide on my very own courses and construct a schedule that labored nicely for me. I had courses from late Monday afternoon by means of Thursday afternoon, which meant I had lengthy weekends from Thursday night to Monday morning. I took full benefit of that free time to journey and profit from my examine overseas expertise.
Additionally, it’s price noting that the campus I attended was primarily for examine overseas college students, which created a singular and supportive studying group.”
Language Studying
Whereas studying a second language is not required so that you can examine overseas, many college students like Amiya enroll in language studying programs. Hear about Amiya’s expertise studying Spanish in Barcelona:
“Whereas the first languages in Barcelona are Spanish and Catalan, I discovered that many individuals I interacted with spoke quantity of English, simply as I knew sufficient Spanish to get by. That steadiness helped in day-to-day conditions, however it additionally motivated me to enhance my language abilities.
In the case of studying a language overseas, I extremely suggest enrolling in a local language class whilst you’re within the nation. It provides you the construction to construct on what you realize and the boldness to make use of it in real-life conditions. I’d additionally recommend selecting a homestay if doable and if [you are] comfy with this feature. It pushes you to immerse your self within the language and creates extra alternatives to observe.”
Housing
Housing is included in all AIFS Overseas applications—it’s an incredible alternative to bond with different AIFS Overseas college students and/or join with a neighborhood host! Hear Amiya describe her expertise in a homestay:
“I lived in a homestay and had a really optimistic expertise. My host household was extremely welcoming to each my roommate and me. It was a singular setup as a result of our host mother was native to Spain, whereas our host dad was English and American. That dynamic created an incredible steadiness. If I ever had hassle understanding one thing in Spanish, our host dad was capable of assist translate or clarify phrases and phrases, which made communication a lot smoother.
Residing in a homestay enriched my examine overseas expertise as a result of it pushed me to develop, talk extra clearly, and embrace cultural alternate on a deeper degree.”
Making Pals Overseas
Whether or not you go overseas alone or with a good friend, finding out overseas lends itself to creating sturdy friendships, as Amiya explains:
“I constructed my closest reference to my roommate—we had been extremely shut throughout this system and nonetheless communicate even after examine overseas ended. I made pals with a handful of individuals throughout the AIFS program. One piece of recommendation I’d give to future college students is to attend as many AIFS-led occasions as doable, particularly at first. These early occasions are an effective way to fulfill individuals, break the ice, and begin constructing your group from day one.”
Social Occasions & Journeys
As Amiya defined, AIFS Overseas journeys and actions are an effective way to bond with fellow examine overseas college students. Each AIFS Overseas program options social and cultural actions which are included in this system charges. Plus, many applications provide journeys and excursions that assist you to discover your host nation and past! Under, Amiya describes her expertise with AIFS Overseas actions and journeys:
“I made it a precedence to attend as many occasions as doable. I participated within the orientation actions, the 4-day weekend journey to Basque Nation, the calçot tasting tour, and journeys to Tarragona, Girona, Sevilla, Granada, Valencia, Montserrat, and some others!Outdoors of the excursions, I took a cooking class by means of this system the place I realized the way to make hen paella and Catalan cream—one in all my favourite experiences. I additionally participated in a volunteer occasion with High Manta, which gave me the chance to interact with the area people in a significant method.
What made many of those experiences so memorable was how unexpectedly stunning and wealthy these locations had been. Loads of the locations weren’t spots I’d’ve thought to go to by myself, however they exceeded my expectations. I used to be genuinely surprised by the number of landscapes, cultures, and power every place needed to provide—it added a lot depth to my examine overseas expertise.”
Along with journeys and excursions included in this system value, AIFS Overseas can also provide different weekend journeys which are obtainable for a further charge. As Amiya explains, she’s so glad she participated:
“I invested in each of the lengthy weekend journeys provided by means of the AIFS examine overseas program, together with the 4-day journey to Basque Nation and the 3-day journey to Seville, Granada, and Andalucía. I’d completely suggest making the most of these optionally available journeys.
These experiences opened my eyes to components of Spain I may not have thought to go to by myself—and I’m so glad I did. Every place had its personal distinctive power, tradition, and sweetness. I used to be genuinely surprised by the totally different environments, from the coastal allure of San Sebastián to the historic richness of Andalucía. These journeys added a lot worth to my general expertise and helped me respect the range inside Spain itself.”
Not solely are you able to journey with AIFS Overseas throughout your program, however you’re additionally free to set out by yourself once you’re not in school, as Amiya did:
“My roommate and I had a behavior of selecting a location with out making any concrete reservations—and truthfully, these spontaneous journeys led to one of the best adventures. We’d discover cities on foot, bump into hidden gems, and go on enjoyable ‘facet quests.’”
Private & Skilled Progress
AIFS Overseas individuals persistently report how our applications helped them to develop each personally and professionally. Take heed to Amiya clarify the influence of her program on her private {and professional} future:
“This expertise deepened my curiosity in entrepreneurship and advertising and marketing on a world scale. Seeing how totally different cultures strategy branding, enterprise, and communication impressed me to assume extra globally in the case of my very own targets. Now, I’m extra assured in pursuing alternatives that contain cross-cultural collaboration, whether or not that’s by means of internships, graduate college, or ultimately launching a enterprise with worldwide attain.
Most significantly, finding out overseas jogged my memory that I’m able to adapting, studying, and thriving wherever I’m going—and that mindset goes to hold me into no matter’s subsequent.”
Why AIFS Overseas?
There are such a lot of nice causes to decide on AIFS Overseas, resembling our inclusive housing choices, journeys and excursions, supportive on-site workers, and a variety of applications world wide. Right here’s why Amiya selected AIFS Overseas:
“I first heard about AIFS throughout my freshman yr at a examine overseas honest on campus. After doing extra analysis, I finally selected AIFS as a result of it provided not solely the situation I used to be most excited by (Barcelona) but in addition a variety of experiences past the classroom. What actually stood out to me had been the alternatives for cultural immersion by means of excursions, native occasions, and hands-on studying.”
Under, Aimya explains just a few issues she appreciated about our program:
“One of many issues I appreciated most about AIFS was how accessible and clear the coed expertise felt. Their web site featured scholar blogs, spotlights, and social media takeovers, which gave me a firsthand take a look at what finding out overseas with AIFS was actually like. As somebody who didn’t personally know anybody who had gone by means of this system, these genuine tales helped me really feel extra assured in my resolution.
I positively stopped by the AIFS heart just a few instances throughout my time overseas, primarily to speak with the workers about examine overseas subjects and simply test in. It was comforting to know there was all the time somebody there to speak to who understood what we had been going by means of as college students adjusting to a brand new surroundings.”
Are you a scholar able to take the leap and examine overseas like Amiya did in Barcelona with AIFS Overseas? We’d love that will help you begin your journey!
Right here at AIFS Overseas, we all know a factor or two about serving to faculty college students examine overseas. Our applications are extremely inclusive, which takes a number of the stress out of planning. From coordinating your housing to offering issues like cultural and social actions, excursions, complete insurance coverage, 24/7 emergency assist, on-site workers, and extra, you’ll take consolation in understanding you’ll have assist all through your total expertise overseas.
