AIFS Abroad in Granada, Spain: Semester

I participated in the AIFS Granada program for the Spring Semester of 2023 and I had an amazing experience. The onsite staff were extremely accommodating and were ready and available to help us with anything we needed. The cultural activities were amazing for both learning about the rich culture of Spain as well as bonding with the other students in my program. Also, Granada is a small, walkable city near the beach and mountains, so there is truly something for everyone there. Through this program, I was able to make lifelong friendships, improve my Spanish language skills, and learn so much history and culture.

I wished that my semester-long study abroad experience in Granada had been a year, but I had to get back to continue my "real" studies in my university (Psychology and Philosophy). The memories I made at the Universidad de Granada will last a lifetime, and the friends I made in the community I will keep close in my heart. The schooling was amazing, and I really enjoyed my classes that I was able to take in Spanish after having moved up a level. My background when I got there was one semester of Spanish at the College of William and Mary. The classes at the Universidad de Granada are super approachable and the professors super nice and helpful. I loved my class on Spanish art and architecture the most. My AIFS community helped me throughout this whole process, and I knew if I was having trouble getting adapted on my own that I could reach out to them at any point. I went to my director, Noelia, for relationship advice a few times. My living situation ended up being good overall, but that part could have been better. I did not get to do much with my host family, which was a disappointment. Thankfully, I met great people in the community where I learned how to play Spikeball, dance Salsa and Bachata, and play Ultimate frisbee a little differently than in the states. I have carried these experiences with me this past year. I wish to go back to experience anew the amazing scenery that the Alhambra had to offer, as well as the beaches which made for perfect day trips. The transportation system was also a highlight because I was able to take big Alsa buses to and from the beaches, as well as bla bla cars everywhere!

Everything about my time abroad was perfect! My host mom was the sweetest and was really invested in helping me learn the language. I got to try a ton of new foods and learn all about Spanish and Andalucían culture from my program activities and classes. The immersive classes I took at the CLM helped me improve my comprehension and speaking skills tremendously. I was also able to go to Seville, Córdoba, Morocco, and Nerja through AIFS, which were all such amazing experiences. I would give anything to go back and do it again!