Student Profiles
Rachel poses with her host mom, Antonia, in fron tof the entrance to the Feria de Abril in Seville.
Study abroad gives students a unique experience to live in a different country. It’s important to take advantage of it now because you never know if or when you’ll be able to in the future!”
Rachel Elman
Rachel's majors: Journalism and Spanish with a Business Certificate
Term abroad: Spring 2009
Reason you chose this program: I chose CIEE- Liberal Arts in Sevilla because I wanted to be in Europe and in a warm, Spanish speaking city.
Favorite classes: 20th Century Spanish Women Writers and The Novel and the Cinema: Two Ways of Telling the Story
Describe the housing situation: I lived with a Spanish family, comprised of a host mom, her boyfriend and 2 host brothers.
Best memory: My best memory is going to the Feria de Abril (April Festival) with my host family. I got to wear a flamenco dress and I felt like a true Spaniard for the day.
Biggest surprise: The biggest surprise was how much ham they eat. They eat it like we drink water!
Greatest challenge: Trying to speak in Spanish all of the time. If you have American friends while abroad, it's easy to slip into English.
What you know now that you didn't know before going abroad: It's important to be flexible. We're very accustomed to how things work in the States. When you live in a foreign country things are bound to be different. I think it's important to embrace those differences even if they may not be your preference.
If I could do it over I would... have stayed for an academic year!
Advice to future study abroad participants: If you're thinking about going for a summer, go for a semester. If you're thinking about going for a semester, go for a year!
