8 Ways To Make The Most Of Your Study Abroad Experience in Spain
Spain is one of the most popular countries that students choose to study abroad in, and it is not hard to see why! The rich culture, variety of historic cities, delicious food, and the country’s relaxed atmosphere all make Spain a dream study abroad location.
Though I personally studied abroad in Italy, I fell in love with Spain during my travels there this past summer! If I could go back in time, I’m pretty sure I would choose to study abroad in both Italy and Spain.
Since I (unfortunately) didn’t study abroad in Spain, today I’m to turning the blog over to someone who actually did!
Julia, the blogger behind Study Abroad Adventure, is sharing her best tips for making the most of a study abroad experience in Spain.
1. Learn Spanish
I have been learning Spanish for over 5 years and spending time in Spain has been most enjoyable time in terms of improving it. I fell in love with Spanish when I finally could take it out of the classroom and use it in conversations with real people. Being an international student you have countless opportunities to practice- at university events, parties or with your flatmates. Take advantage of that and speak anytime you get the chance. There will also definitely be courses offered by your university to international students. Knowing the language is the door to really being able to understand the culture. Even gaining some basic Spanish skills will enrich your experience
2. Talk to the locals
Once you’ve got the basics of Spanish covered, try talking to the locals at the place you live. The Spaniards are very friendly people, always up for a quick chat about football or the weather. They are also very passionate about their country food and celebrations. If you strike up a conversation about any of these topics you’re almost guaranteed an interesting conversation. I’ve been studying Spanish culture in school and at university for years now, but traveling around the country and meeting people who tell you their point of view is by far the most fascinating way of learning about Spain.
3. Take part in local celebrations
Every city and every village in Spain has a local festivity and they take many shapes. Some of the most famous ones are Las Fallas in Valencia, Las Fiestas del Pilar in Zaragoza, La Feria del Caballo in Sevilla. I had the chance to see Las Fallas this year and I was beyond impressed with the spirit of celebration. Apart from being one of the most spectacular fiestas in Spain, Las Fallas impressed me with how many people were included – I observed everybody, from small children to old people, dressed up in traditional clothes and enjoying the fiestas until late at night. It’s the time of enjoying life and celebrating the local culture. It was a joy for me to see how the city was transformed into one big party for a couple of days.
4. Understand the tapa culture and more
You will quickly notice that life in Spain consists largely of going for tapas y cañas. Cañas are small glasses of beer and tapas are small, accompanying dishes, which tend to be shared between everybody. But the tapa culture is more- it is the symbol of the Spanish way of life, which means coming together with friends and family. You don’t go for tapas alone, it’s a collective experience, a way to enjoy the time with your people. You will also learn not to order a latte, but rather a café con leche and that there are only two types of wine: red and white.
5. Party like the Spanish
That means late. While the majority of people in Europe will begin their night around 10 or 11, in Spain you usually don’t start the party until 1 am. That may take some adjusting (it did for me), but you will soon come to enjoy the all-night Spanish fiestas and the morning churros on the way home.
6. Eat all the food
I already mentioned tapas and churros, but there’s much more. The Spanish cuisine is a vital part of the country’s culture, it’s quite simple but truly delicious. It’s easy to find out what are the typical dishes in your region so don’t hesitate to have a try. Most bars will serve the regional dishes and tapas usually consist of the most popular Spanish food which is things like patatas bravas, tortilla, paella valenciana or pimientos de Padrón. There will also be traditional spirits and drinks such as sangria, so prepare for a lot of good food.
7. Travel everywhere
Don’t stay in one place, try to find the time to travel between the uni assignments and all the partying. Spain is much more than Madrid and Barcelona; I recommend traveling to smaller cities and villages to see how people live and try the local food. Spain is a very diverse country in terms of local culture- there are different languages, dialects, and accents, the food varies greatly and the landscapes are diverse, but always stunning.
8. Do some people watching
At the bar, in a café or just on the streets you can spend some time watching how the Spaniards dress, spend their time, relate to each other, how the kids play. I find it very enjoyable as it’s quite different from what I know from my country, especially in terms of liberty and tolerance.
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