Studying abroad in Spain is one of the best experiences I have ever had in my life. Not only was given the opportunity to fully immerse myself in another culture, but I was also able to continue learning Spanish and bettering myself and my language abilities daily.

I am studying microbiology, with aspirations to attend dental school at some point in the near future. I think that by studying abroad it not only puts into perspective the different medical settings that take place in other parts of the world, but it is allowing me to effectively be able to communicate with patients and others that do not speak English. I think that speaking another language is an incredible skill to have, and I feel as though my abilities have improved enough that I can communicate with others in real life situations.

On a personal level, this program helped me to grow in ways that I haven’t in the past. It taught me how to get through difficult situations, how to work with people that I don't get along with or do not have the same thoughts in situations about.

Studying in Santander greatly helped my ability at communicating to others in Spanish, and I think excelled due to living with a host family. Having a host mom that spoke no English, forced me to communicate solely in Spanish, even when it was difficult, and I was not sure what to say. The host mom that I had was an incredible portion of the program that I was a part of and made this experience extra special to me. She taught me many different things about Spanish culture, her family and her life, and different things that she has overcome and the value of them.

Within a host family, you follow the rules that are set for you by the family, which differ from some of the things in the US. Dinner was always at 8:30 pm - 9:00 pm, which is much later than in the United States. In the host family, I learned more about Spain and their culture than I ever could have in a class or by reading it; I lived it and learned from the experiences I had.

Before studying abroad, I was nervous I would be homesick, would not be able to communicate well, and would not fit in with the other students on my program. None of these were the case for me and the program that I was on. I never felt homesick, which I think was due to the host mom that I had, and the other student that I lived with. I would surround myself with them and they helped me through the challenges of adjusting to a new culture.

One of the most important lessons that I learned on this program is that grades do not define who you are, but rather what you do and the experiences you have. When I was having a hard time grasping the concepts in a pronunciation class, I reflected on the time that I was having abroad. I was having the most amazing time of my life and was surrounded by a group of people that were so special to me. Having a grade that is less than perfect is not as important as the time that I was having. It took me until I was abroad in another country to realize the importance of everything, rather than only that of school.

Overall, I am so fortunate to have been able to study abroad in Santander. It was a surreal experience that I wish I could experience time and time again. The people, the memories, and all the lessons I learned are something that I hold close to my heart, and I will forever be grateful to have.

Name: Natalie Mulheron
Status: Junior
Major: Microbiology
Hometown: Berkley, Michigan
Program: Spanish Language, Literature, and Culture in Santander