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When I was in high school making plans for college, I didn’t know what school I would attend or what my major would be, but I was sure I wanted to study abroad. I enrolled in a smaller school in Washington, D.C., but upon finishing my freshman year, my interests shifted and that school did not have an academic program that was a good fit. During my sophomore year, I tried online classes at multiple universities, but eventually decided to move back to my home state of Massachusetts and study communication and Spanish at UMass Amherst.

After transferring to UMass, one of the first things I did was visit the International Programs Office (IPO). In a conversation with IPO Advisor Cristina Sosa, I expressed my desire to improve my Spanish language skills. She recommended that I look into API, one of the largest organizations assisting students in studying or interning abroad across five continents. My initial plan was to study in Latin America but most programs in South and Central America were closed due to COVID-19. Fortunately, there is a great program offered by API that met my needs in Spain. Ultimately, I decided to pursue an advanced Spanish language program in Sevilla.

When I arrived at Logan Airport on a cold January day in Boston, I had no idea I was embarking on the most memorable four months of my college experience. Although I had traveled to Spain twice before, I had never been to Sevilla, so I was both nervous and excited to explore a new city.

During my first week in Spain, I explored cultural sites with other students, which provided a great opportunity to form connections before the start of classes. Many of the people I met in Sevilla are still among my closest friends. I will forever be grateful to API for creating an environment that allowed these friendships to flourish.

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After the orientation week, we settled into our daily routines. I lived in a student residence managed by a local family. My classes were scheduled from Monday to Thursday at Universidad de Sevilla, located a pleasant 20-minute walk from the residence. The morning stroll to school was breathtaking, and I often made a stop at a café for a typical Spanish breakfast of café con leche and pan con tomate and jamón ibérico. After enjoying my breakfast, I would cross the stunning Guadalquivir River via a picturesque bridge to reach the university.

I took four classes entirely in Spanish, each meeting twice a week for two hours. The teaching and learning styles at Universidad de Sevilla differed significantly from those at UMass. The classes relied heavily on lectures and had minimal participation, which I did not particularly enjoy. However, I thoroughly enjoyed the very minimal amount of homework. After school, I would usually meet up with friends or explore Sevilla on my own. Some days, I would find a café to read a book or have conversations with friends. Even over a year later, I still genuinely miss the slower pace of life in Spain.

The weekends were the highlight of my study abroad experience. Since we didn't have classes on Fridays, every weekend provided a three-day opportunity to travel without missing class time.

Kirk vlogged about his experiences in Spain for the UMass Amherst's official YouTube and TikTok channels.

Throughout my time abroad, I spent about half of the weekends in Sevilla and the other half traveling to different parts of Spain and nearby countries. This balance was the perfect way to study abroad because it allowed me to immerse myself in Sevillano life while also taking advantage of nearby travel opportunities. During my stay in Spain, I also visited Portugal, France, Morocco, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Greece. My visit to Morocco marked my first time in Africa and my first experience in a majority Muslim country. What made it even more special was the fact that I was there during Ramadan, one of the most sacred times of the year for Muslims. During this time, people fast during the day, so although I wasn't fasting, I had the privilege of joining my local Moroccan guide in breaking his fast each evening by enjoying a small snack of dates with him.

Although it may sound cliché, studying abroad opened my eyes. I was exposed to new places, cultures, people, and experiences. When I returned to UMass Amherst, I felt much more confident in my Spanish classes. I am immensely grateful to Luis Marentes, my advisor in the UMass Spanish program, for ensuring the transfer of all my credits from Spain. The impact of studying abroad on my college experience was so profound that my post-graduation plans involve spending another year immersed in a foreign country. I am forever grateful to the UMass International Programs Office and API for providing me with an unforgettable experience that has opened numerous doors for me.

This story was published in July 2023.