Name: Claire Lynch
Major: Exercise Science - Health Fitness Instruction
Program: ISA Málaga Intensive Month
Traveled Abroad Before: Yes

Q: What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of your study abroad experience?
A: When I think of my study abroad experience I think of the wonderful connections I formed. By studying abroad through an external provider and at a host university, I met so many other international students and students that were a part of my program. In my ISA program, there were 7 other wonderful students that I now can consider lifelong friends. Outside of class, we spent time exploring the city together, traveling to other cities, and studying. In my course at the Universidad de Málaga, I met other international students from China, the Netherlands, Italy, Germany, and some others from the United States as well. Having peers from other countries allowed me to gain multicultural awareness and a global perspective. The most notable relationship was with my host family. Living with a host family was the best decision I could have made for myself and my language development. My host mother cooked the most wonderful Spanish food, told us about her life experiences, and shared Spain's vibrant culture with us. One of her adult sons joined us every single day for lunch and we would talk extensively about cultural differences, the Spanish government, and even fun things like pop culture. Both of my host mother's adult sons provided my roommate and me with resources on things to do and places to travel in Spain. Additionally, I got to meet my host mother's grandchildren. It was so much having sleepovers and spending time with her granddaughter and she felt like a little sister to me. While I was learning Spanish, her granddaughter was learning English, so it was so much fun being able to test each other on our language abilities and help each other out. Furthermore, my host mother only spoke Spanish which forced me to adapt quickly. By speaking only Spanish with her I had to be willing to make mistakes in my speaking which ultimately transformed my language abilities immensely. I am so grateful that I lived with such a wonderful family and in a household full of love, laughter, and culture.

Q: Why did you choose this destination?
A: I chose to study abroad in Málaga because I love the culture of Andalusia. When I first traveled to Spain during my senior year of high school I instantly fell in love with the southern cities of Spain. Andalusia feels like the pinnacle of Spanish culture. Málaga is the sixth largest city in Spain, so I knew I could experience city life without it being too overwhelming. With Málaga's economy being dependent upon tourism, I knew there would be plenty to do and see in the area, and there was. Living in Málaga allowed me to travel to many other nearby cities, like Sevilla, Granada, and Marbella. The best part of living in Málaga was being right on the beautiful Mediterranean sea, so ultimately, what better way to spend a month abroad than directly on the sea and in a warm climate?

Q: What are some things that surprised you about the campus, the classes, the culture, customs or traditions?
A: The classroom culture was very surprising to me. The student-to-professor relationship was much more informal, which allowed me to make a strong connection with my professor. The classroom style was much more laid back which created a comfortable learning environment. Something that surprised me about the culture was the meals. In Spain, it is customary to have a small pastry and coffee for breakfast, a large lunch, and a small dinner. Lunch in Spain is much more comparable to dinner in the United States. Families gather for a homecooked, sit-down meal, and have extensive conversations. I was not used to taking such a long break during the middle of the day, but it was something I grew to appreciate. I was also not accustomed to eating such a small and late dinner. We would normally eat dinner around 9 pm and we often were served eggs, salad, and bread.

Q: What are some things you would like students to know about studying abroad in this destination or the program provider you studied with?
A: I would like students to look beyond the popular Spanish study abroad destinations and consider Málaga. Málaga is a beautiful and vibrant city with so much to see and do and is close to plenty of other Spanish cities. Being directly on the Mediterranean sea is so much fun and there is always something to do. Furthermore, the Universidad de Málaga has a wonderful program for international students and really cares about its students, and strives to create an immersive experience for them. I also encourage students to look into International Studies Abroad's many opportunities and destinations for study abroad. They have so many options for location, duration, and credit amounts that you are very likely to find a program that fits your personal and academic needs.

Q: What advice would you offer?
A: I would advise students to go into study abroad with an open mind. Studying abroad is an exciting and difficult time as you are taking in so many new things and experiencing an entirely new culture. This can be challenging as you may be experiencing culture shock and missing your home, routine, and family. Do not hesitate to reach out to your advisors at GVSU, family, and advisors abroad. There are so many people who are willing to help and support you. Most importantly, be willing to adapt, learn, and experience.

Q: What was your academic goal while studying abroad?
A: My academic goal while abroad was to complete credits toward my Spanish minor and improve my Spanish language skills. I completed six credits of speaking, comprehension, and composition in an intensive month at the Universidad de Málaga.

Question? Email Claire!

Name: Jessica Smelker
Major: International Business
Program: Mobility
Traveled Abroad Before: Yes

Q: What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of your study abroad experience?
A: When I think of my experience, I think of all the international friends I made during my stay. I was constantly surrounded by native Spaniards and also students studying from all over the world. It was amazing to be able to interact with such a variety of people and learn things about their cultures while learning about the Spanish culture as well.

Q: Why did you choose this destination?
A: I knew that I wanted to study in Spain before I even started at GVSU. I had traveled to Mexico in high school, which was amazing, but I knew that I wanted to travel overseas to practice my Spanish in Spain during college. I did my research on the different cities that I could choose from about a year in advance and fell in love with Bilbao because of its smaller size compared to Barcelona or Madrid and the amount of art and history that was prevalent.

Q: What are some things that surprised you about the campus, the classes, the culture, customs or traditions?
A: The biggest thing that surprised me was that students were expected to create their schedules by hand. There was no "my Banner" website to register for classes, and we were able to register for any class regardless of prerequisites due to our international student status. Before officially registering we were allowed a 2 week "trial period" where we were able to attend any classes to assess how we would like them. Also, professors were allowed to contact students and reschedule classes for different times or even different days of the week at their leisure. One of my classes was even taught by 3 separate professors and the class time and day changed 3 times during the semester. All of this may sound very inconvenient and confusing, but when you keep an open mind about things being different instead of expecting things to be just like Grand Valley, it becomes very easy to adjust.

Q: What are some things you would like students to know about studying abroad in this destination or the program provider you studied with?
A: Take advantage of the Happy Erasmus program. They are a group who offers events and trips for for international students for majorly discounted prices. It's also a great way to meet other students outside of your classes and experience all that Bilbao has to offer!

Q: What advice would you offer?
A: I would advise students to make your classes your first priority and plan any events or trips around them ahead of time so they do not interfere with your studies. With that being said, make new friends, travel, explore Bilbao and take it all in. Visit all of the museums in Bilbao (especially the Guggenheim), the beaches which are a quick metro ride away, and definitely try all of the delicious Spanish and Basque food.

Q: What was your academic goal while studying abroad?
A: My goal was to succeed in my classes but to treat excursions and traveling as cultural learning experiences as well. I took my classes just as seriously as I would if I were at home and was still able to travel and explore so much while abroad.

Question? Email Jessica!