June 6. Three days before my 21st birthday. Twenty-four days before I leave for España. Time is absolutely flying by, and preparations for my big trip are underway! I have already booked my train tickets, hostel, and La Sagrada Familia ticket for when I travel to Barcelona for a long weekend about midway through the program. I realized very quickly last year when I did the KIIS Spain 1 program that it is wise to book everything way ahead of time, as hotel rooms and train tickets sell out quickly during the summer. Being the type-A person that I am, planning travel is second nature to me! What's also exciting is that I have really connected with one of the other students in my program who shares my dream of becoming a bilingual speech-language pathologist (SLP)! We are enrolled in the same courses and plan to explore Barcelona together! Last year, I faced some difficulty making good, valuable connections with my fellow students, but I have a hunch that this year will be very different!
I've been doing some more research on places I'd like to visit while I'm in Spain. I've been fortunate enough to already have visited some of the most notable places in Spain (Madrid, Segovia, Toledo, Ávila, Salamanca, Santiago de Compostela, Córdoba, Sevilla, Granada, Málaga, Valencia, and Barcelona). I want to go to some smaller, likely less touristy places to which I've never been, as I truly don't know when I'll get another chance to return to Spain. During the second weekend of the program, I'm very much considering going to a town located on the Way of St. James called Burgos. The city boasts one of the most beautiful cathedrals and historic quarters in all of Spain. Having visited the final stop on the Way of St. James (Santiago de Compostela) last year, I'm dying to see another stop for myself. We'll see where I end up! :)
*Side note: One thing I cannot stress enough to folks about the travel component of study abroad is that you should go to places that YOU want to visit. Don't just follow the crowd. Maximize your stay abroad by going places that interest YOU! Play an active role in planning ahead with your travel group or buddy, ensuring that everyone gets to do and see what fits their interests.
Lastly, I received my course syllabi the other day via e-mail from Dr. Pak. She is the professor that will be teaching both of my courses. Meeting her at orientation in April was such a pleasure, and I have no doubt that the activities we do and the material I learn in her classes will help me become more fluent in Spanish. I love how she has planned her courses in a way that takes advantage of the fact that we'll be living and learning in Spain. I am most excited about the "diario" in Advanced Oral Spanish, where I will describe and evaluate the details of my weekly experiences. In a way, this blog will be an English version of my diary, where I reflect on my studies and travels in Spain. Too cool, right?! I have such a good vibe about this program, my courses, my fellow students, and our wonderful professors.
P.S. If you're interested in reading about exactly what I'll be doing in my courses, check out the syllabi below!
Un abrazo,
Kelly
I've been doing some more research on places I'd like to visit while I'm in Spain. I've been fortunate enough to already have visited some of the most notable places in Spain (Madrid, Segovia, Toledo, Ávila, Salamanca, Santiago de Compostela, Córdoba, Sevilla, Granada, Málaga, Valencia, and Barcelona). I want to go to some smaller, likely less touristy places to which I've never been, as I truly don't know when I'll get another chance to return to Spain. During the second weekend of the program, I'm very much considering going to a town located on the Way of St. James called Burgos. The city boasts one of the most beautiful cathedrals and historic quarters in all of Spain. Having visited the final stop on the Way of St. James (Santiago de Compostela) last year, I'm dying to see another stop for myself. We'll see where I end up! :)
*Side note: One thing I cannot stress enough to folks about the travel component of study abroad is that you should go to places that YOU want to visit. Don't just follow the crowd. Maximize your stay abroad by going places that interest YOU! Play an active role in planning ahead with your travel group or buddy, ensuring that everyone gets to do and see what fits their interests.
Lastly, I received my course syllabi the other day via e-mail from Dr. Pak. She is the professor that will be teaching both of my courses. Meeting her at orientation in April was such a pleasure, and I have no doubt that the activities we do and the material I learn in her classes will help me become more fluent in Spanish. I love how she has planned her courses in a way that takes advantage of the fact that we'll be living and learning in Spain. I am most excited about the "diario" in Advanced Oral Spanish, where I will describe and evaluate the details of my weekly experiences. In a way, this blog will be an English version of my diary, where I reflect on my studies and travels in Spain. Too cool, right?! I have such a good vibe about this program, my courses, my fellow students, and our wonderful professors.
P.S. If you're interested in reading about exactly what I'll be doing in my courses, check out the syllabi below!
Un abrazo,
Kelly