Elias’s Spring Semester Overseas in Granada

13

Desperate to step into the footsteps of a faculty scholar who studied overseas in Spain? We not too long ago caught up with AIFS Overseas program participant Elias from the College of Vermont. He spent a spring semester learning overseas within the Andalusian metropolis of Granada. 

Learn on to study extra about his examine overseas expertise with AIFS Overseas and the affect of being a global scholar in Granada.

Brett: Hello, welcome again. My identify is Brett. I’m a senior at Flagler School learning Spanish and Worldwide Research, and I studied overseas within the spring of 2024 in Granada. 

Elias: Hello, my identify is Elias. I’m additionally a senior. I’m on the College of Vermont. I’m learning Political Science and Environmental Research. I used to be fortunate to be in the identical program as Brett. In order that’s really how we met. 

The Benefits & Challenges of Learning Overseas 

Brett: How was your total examine overseas expertise? Did you overcome obstacles pre-departure? 

Elias: Initially, it was simply a tremendous expertise. Going into it, I had fairly excessive expectations for learning overseas as a result of I’ve recognized since highschool that is one thing I wished to do. So I actually wished it to be a terrific expertise, however it even surpassed every thing that I used to be anticipating — I imply, actually, actually superb.

I positively had some considerations beforehand entering into. I believe it’s one thing that most likely lots of people fear about — the entire sort of tradition shock and getting used to dwelling out of the country is actually difficult. So I wasn’t actually positive how I used to be going to adapt to that when I bought there, particularly as a result of I used to be in a homestay. I bought to stick with a bunch mother who solely spoke Spanish. And I used to be nervous about how robust my Spanish could be and the way that will maintain up there. I hadn’t taken a Spanish class since highschool till I bought in there.  

Probably the most worrying a part of main as much as really learning overseas could be getting a visa. 

I do know that for lots of people which are within the software course of proper now, you most likely know precisely what I’m speaking about. It’s not straightforward, it’s plenty of paperwork, however it’s completely price it. When you really get there and expertise what examine overseas actually is, it makes all of the stress main as much as this system price it. 

Brett: The paperwork and the visa are intimidating, however it’s price it for 4 to 5 months [of] with the ability to journey wherever you need. 

Elias: One of many issues that helped me with attempting to get via all of the annoying paperwork and logistics and every thing beforehand are the assets and folks you’ll be able to attain out to at AIFS, and I extremely suggest doing that, particularly with visa stuff. I had plenty of questions on that like, “When am I going to get my visa again?” and “Am I doing this paperwork proper?” Don’t be afraid to succeed in out to the individuals which are there that can assist you as a result of they often have the solutions to your questions. 

Brett: Understanding that AIFS was there throughout the software course of and likewise on the bottom in Granada was comforting. We might ship them an e-mail they usually’d reply inside an hour. 

Elias: They had been positively extra concerned with our program and instantly supporting us after we arrived in Spain, greater than I used to be anticipating. Having all of the orientation actions was actually useful, getting to fulfill individuals in our program helps you get to know town and the place you reside and every thing. It made it rather a lot simpler to regulate to dwelling there. 

Educational & Skilled Improvement Overseas 

Brett: So that you stated you’re learning Environmental Science and Environmental Research. How did learning overseas affect your tutorial and profession objectives? 

Elias: Yeah, in some ways. So to begin off with I used to be fortunate sufficient to have the ability to examine at one of many extra prestigious universities in Europe. So proper off the bat that’s an enormous alternative. I used to be capable of take just a few Political Science courses whereas I used to be there, one in all them was an “Environmental Politics of the [European Union]” class. The opposite one was the “Political Methods of Spain and the [European Union],” which aren’t subjects you’d get to check again within the US. It’s additionally being taught from the views of professors which are instantly impacted by these issues and have grown up studying about it and learning it. In order that was actually cool. It was an opportunity to study issues inside my main in niches that I wouldn’t often discover right here at [an American] school. 

I used to be required to take a Spanish grammar and a Spanish talking and writing class. That was superb as nicely as a result of for a part of my program right here at UVM — it’s most likely like this for lots of colleges as nicely — I’m required to take a specific amount of overseas language programs. So it helped me fulfill that, but in addition it simply helped me get rather a lot higher at talking Spanish, which was one in all my greatest objectives. Most likely my primary purpose for learning overseas was to attempt to grow to be fluent in Spanish. A part of that was via taking these courses and a part of it was additionally simply via being in a homestay and dwelling in a metropolis the place everybody speaks Spanish. In order that cultural publicity is an enormous a part of it too. 

Brett: I agree, I believe having a Spanish professor educate you Spanish historical past from their standpoint… positive, you’ll be able to examine political system of Spain and the US, however is that actually what the Spanish individuals take into consideration their political system? And I believe nearly all of the professors at our college knew that we had been coming from different international locations, in order that they knew we had totally different views they usually had been prepared to share their [perspective] with us. 

Elias: That Spanish talking class, which I do know that you just needed to take as nicely… the power to study conversational Spanish — some slang and another phrases which are native they really use, so that you’re not all the time speaking like a robotic. It helps you mix in once you’re having conversations with native audio system. That’s a very cool factor that you just’re most likely much less more likely to get right here. There’re so many issues which are totally different about getting an training there. 

How Does Learning Overseas Impression Your Worldview? 

Brett: How has your perspective or your worldview modified on account of learning in Spain? 

Elias: It’s positively modified rather a lot. A part of it was that I bought to study rather a lot about different cultures. 
There have been plenty of college students there that weren’t simply from the US however from different international locations, too. Having the prospect to fulfill individuals from all world wide helps to develop that broader worldview. Additionally being able to journey throughout that point helps rather a lot. It adjustments rather a lot about the way in which that you just view your life once you come again to the US, proper? There [are] plenty of issues about dwelling right here that we both simply take without any consideration or assume are common. And it’s actually totally different once you once you come again right here. And I believe a part of that distinction is a piece life stability. That’s one thing that’s very totally different culturally between the US and the remainder of the world. So being uncovered to issues like that and simply seeing what the fashion of dwelling is like overseas can actually change the way you view your personal life once you come again right here. And it may possibly change, , the way you go about your day by day life.  

I believe that’s sort of the life-style I used to be in search of… there’s extra to life than simply college and work. I believe that one factor I seen, particularly in Europe on the whole, is that there’s extra of an emphasis on simply high quality of life and happiness over being profitable. 

I assume one of the best ways to place it’s there are different methods to search out success. And that was a very massive means that my perspective modified. I miss dwelling in that sort of atmosphere now that I’m again right here. 

Elias’s Recommendation for Learning Overseas 

Brett: What recommendation would you give to somebody that’s contemplating learning overseas, perhaps in Spain, perhaps some other place? 

Elias: To start out with, if there’s a scholar who’s sort of on the fence about learning overseas and also you’re not likely positive, take that leap of religion. I used to be very nervous about [studying abroad] and simply felt not sure to start with after I was some packages… I used to be like, I don’t know what’s fairly proper for me. You understand, you’re not going to have all of the solutions immediately and also you’re not going to know precisely what a examine overseas program will appear to be or interning overseas. However generally it’s good to simply discover a program that you just assume will swimsuit you and simply take that leap of religion and simply go for it. As a result of plenty of stuff you’ll work out once you get there… you don’t need to have every thing deliberate out. Plenty of issues will simply fall into place and also you’ll determine it out as you go. That’s a part of the journey and a part of the entire great thing about, , getting to do that. For those who assume it’s one thing that you can do and also you’re on the fence about it, go for it. Simply go for it. I hear much more individuals say that they remorse not doing it than remorse doing it. It’s well worth the threat. 

Simply be very open to assembly new individuals and studying new issues and experiencing new cultures. The extra new alternatives you’ll be able to open your self as much as, the higher off you’ll be. 

Brett: There’s plenty of concern as a result of individuals don’t know what they’re getting themselves into and also you’re distant from your loved ones and mates. However there’s all the time a aircraft ticket residence. For those who don’t prefer it — which I believe you’ll — it’s not without end, it’s not the remainder of your life. You’ll be able to flip round and go residence. However you’ll by no means know you wish to go residence until you allow. I’ll say that the primary few days are scary, however I don’t know, I really feel like I noticed all of those posts and issues earlier than I left, like individuals crying, saying goodbye to their households and then you definately’re crying for a complete separate purpose once you’re leaving. And that’s precisely what I skilled. I used to be very unsure, just a little nervous leaving. And after I left Granada, I used to be like, I wish to keep. I don’t wish to return. Simply go for it, attempt it. It’s scary, however it’s so price it. 

Elias: And once you’re there, squeeze every thing out of it that you would be able to, as a result of I do know individuals say like, “Oh, it’s going to fly by” and also you’re sort of like, “Oh yeah, I do know.” However no, severely, I can not consider I used to be there for 4 months. It felt like most likely 4 weeks. It goes by so rapidly, , for lots of people which are actually enthusiastic about it and are planning out, like, I wish to go see this. I wish to go to this place. I wish to do that — time’s going to fly by. 

So severely, reap the benefits of the time you’ve gotten there. Take pleasure in it as a lot as potential. Attempt as many new issues as you’ll be able to. Simply know that… you’ll be able to all the time return. 

Brett: Take pleasure in it. It flies. It’s loopy how briskly it went. I really feel like I used to be simply planning to go and now it’s over. I’m so grateful to have had the expertise. I really feel prefer it’s sort of tacky to [say], “Oh, it modified my life.” However it actually does… I all the time heard these individuals say, “Going overseas modified my life.” And then you definately do it and it’s a lot deeper than you’d ever assume. It’s not similar to I ran round Europe for 4 months. It’s plenty of tutorial progress, however private progress too. I really feel prefer it does change you as an individual. 

Elias: And it’s not such as you take your life at residence and transplant it into a brand new nation and also you’re simply doing the identical factor overseas. It’s severely like your life actually adjustments. You modify. So it’s sort of scary, however it’s additionally such a tremendous factor on the similar time. 

What Makes Learning Overseas So Particular? 

Brett: Is there a reminiscence that stands out? What makes Granada so particular? 

Elias: There’s two solutions to it. I’d say one in all them being the immersion that you’ve got in dwelling there makes it so superb. You get to really feel such as you’re similar to an area there. [You adapt] so rapidly and also you grow to be a Granadino, what I imply? Such as you simply sort of settle in and when you get used to it, it’s so cool. 

Simply attending to expertise the tradition there and , it’s the sort of factor that you would be able to by no means study the identical means out of a textbook. Like you’ll be able to study what a ‘sobremesa’ is, however you don’t actually know what it’s till you do it, which is, attending to have an extended dialog with your loved ones and mates after dinner and it may be hours lengthy. However it’s simply issues like which are so totally different once you get to expertise it firsthand. And people are the sorts of issues that actually keep on with you and it’ll be totally different in each place that you just go to.

However the different massive factor is clearly getting to fulfill individuals there. I imply me and also you and our different buddy Diana grew to become very, very shut there and we bought to fulfill so many superb, superb individuals… And whether or not it’s house owners of the native espresso store or native bar, I believe the most important reminiscences that also keep on with me at the moment after I take into consideration Granada are literally going round and enthusiastic about how we’re going to say goodbye to these individuals inside the previous couple of weeks of learning overseas there. And I imply, it’s loopy to assume we had been solely there like 4 months. Like how in 4 months are you able to grow to be so settled into a spot, so hooked up to a spot that then leaving feels such as you’re saying goodbye to a spot you’ve recognized your complete life? So I take into consideration the final night time there and sort of going round and simply seeing all of our favourite spots once more. See, I believe a part of it’s the individuals and a part of it’s the tradition. 

Brett: After I discuss Granada, I get goosebumps as a result of that’s how a lot I adore it. I hope we’ve satisfied you to go to Granada as a result of that’s the most suitable choice. 

Elias: All examine overseas is nice, however Granada is the most effective. 

Brett: There’s examine overseas and that’s one stage, after which there’s Granada — it’s just a bit bit greater. Thanks a lot for sharing your expertise. 

Elias: Thanks for having me on. 

Brett: I really feel like that’s just about it. So go apply and begin your functions for Granada! 

Are you a scholar who’s able to take the leap and examine overseas like Elias did in Granada? We’d love that can assist you begin your journey! 

Right here at AIFS Overseas, we all know a factor or two about serving to school college students and pre-professionals examine and intern overseas. Our packages are extremely inclusive, which takes plenty 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 complete expertise overseas. 

[Button: Learn More about Studying Abroad]