Spain – Mia

1.-describe-the-city-you-were-living-in:-the-landscape,-the-culture,-the-weather-etc.-san-sebastián-very-quickly-became-my-favourite-place-in-the-world.-the-city-is-built-around-“la-concha”,-the-beach-shaped-like-a-shell.-when-the-sign-was-shining,-it-came-alive-with-spanish-and-basque-people-and-students.-there-was-a-lot-of-rainy-days,-which-just-made-the-warm,-sunny-days-even-more-special.-with-plenty-of-restaurants-and-bars,-with-their-famous-pinxtos-delicacies,-i-was-never-bored.-i-truly-never-thought-i-could-feel-so-at-home-in-a-place-so-far-from-where-i’m-from.-learning-about-the-basque-culture-as-well-as-spanish-culture-gave-me-an-authentic-experience,-developed-my-language-astronomically,-and-introduced-me-to-people-from-all-walks-of-life.-when-leaving,-i-felt-like-i-left-my-heart-behind.-2.-describe-a-normal-day-in-your-life-overseas:-your-university,-your-work-placement-or-your-study-tour?-as-a-student-staying-in-the-on-campus-dorms,-my-days-were-structured-and-tailored-exactly-how-i-wanted-them-to-be.-i-had-an-easy-commute-to-class,-my-meals-were-provided,-i-could-access-the-gym,-and-of-course-i-walked-along-la-concha-whenever-i-could.-i-was-a-30-minute-walk-or-15-minute-bus-ride-from-my-friend’s-houses,-so-i-maintained-my-relationships-and-social-life-but-still-had-a-great-balance-and-sense-of-normalcy.-all-of-our-teachers-were-kind,-and-i-developed-strong-friendships-with-all-of-the-people-in-our-group,-with-some-sort-of-social-outing-planned-almost-every-night.-1.-how-did-you-decide-which-study-abroad-opportunity-to-do?-i-have-always-wanted-to-learn-spanish,-and-really-wanted-to-get-the-most-out-of-this-experience,-especially-considering-i-moved-on-knowing-very-little-of-the-language.-so,-i-wanted-to-try-avoid-big/touristy-cities-like-madrid-or-barcelona,-to-try-and-get-the-most-authentic-experience-i-could,-as-well-as-being-located-somewhere-with-less-english-than-the-big-cities.-san-sebastian’s-location-on-the-beach,-its-merge-of-spanish-and-basque-cultures,-combined-with-a-great-nightlife-and-culinary-experience-felt-like-it-was-a-no-brainer.-5.-what-is-the-one-big-thing-you-will-always-remember-from-your-experience?-the-people!-i-could-not-have-loved-the-group-i-got-to-share-this-experience-with.-i-was-a-little-nervous-going-in-as-i-was-the-only-australian-and-i-thought-there-could-be-a-language-or-cultural-difference.-once-we-got-past-all-the-questions-about-kangaroos,-i-honestly-could-not-have-felt-closer-or-more-connected-to-the-students-i-met-through-usac.-there-were-so-many-laughs,-games-nights,-nights-out,-holidays-and-travelling,-all-contributing-to-real,-genuine-friendships,-which-are-still-maintained-now.-having-the-balance-of-spanish-students-in-the-dorms-(which-was-daunting-at-times,-but-amazing-for-putting-myself-out-there-and-learning-the-language),-as-well-as-the-group-of-usa-students-really-made-this-experience-life-changing-for-me.

Student: Mia
Course: Bachelor of Arts/Master of International relations
Program: Trimester exchange

Describe the city you were living in: the landscape, the culture, the weather etc.

San Sebastián very quickly became my favourite place in the world. The city is built around “la concha”, the beach shaped like a shell. When the sun was shining, it came alive with Spanish and Basque people and students. There was a lot of rainy days, which just made the warm, sunny days even more special. With plenty of restaurants and bars, with their famous pinxtos delicacies, I was never bored. I truly never thought I could feel so at home in a place so far from where I’m from. Learning about the Basque culture as well as Spanish culture gave me an authentic experience, developed my language astronomically, and introduced me to people from all walks of life. When leaving, I felt like I left my heart behind.

Describe a normal day in your life overseas: your university, your work placement or your study tour?

As a student staying in the on-campus dorms, my days were structured and tailored exactly how I wanted them to be. I had an easy commute to class, my meals were provided, I could access the gym, and of course I walked along la concha whenever I could. I was a 30 minute walk or 15 minute bus ride from my friend’s houses, so I maintained my relationships and social life but still had a great balance and sense of normalcy. All of our teachers were kind, and I developed strong friendships with all of the people in our group, with some sort of social outing planned almost every night.

How did you decide which study abroad opportunity to do?

I have always wanted to learn Spanish, and really wanted to get the most out of this experience, especially considering I moved on knowing very little of the language. So, I wanted to try avoid big/touristy cities like Madrid or Barcelona, to try and get the most authentic experience I could, as well as being located somewhere with less English than the big cities. San Sebastian’s location on the beach, its merge of Spanish and Basque cultures, combined with a great nightlife and culinary experience felt like it was a no brainer.

What is the one big thing you will always remember from your experience?

The people! I could not have loved the group I got to share this experience with. I was a little nervous going in as I was the only Australian and I thought there could be a language or cultural difference. Once we got past all the questions about kangaroos, I honestly could not have felt closer or more connected to the students I met through USAC. There were so many laughs, games nights, nights out, holidays and travelling, all contributing to real, genuine friendships, which are still maintained now. Having the balance of Spanish students in the dorms (which was daunting at times, but amazing for putting myself out there and learning the language), as well as the group of USA students really made this experience life changing for me.

Learn more about studying through USAC