Name: Jess Gjolaj
Major: Political Science
Program: International Business, Studies, and Culture program through ISA
Traveled Abroad Before: Yes

Q: What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of your study abroad experience?
A: The first thing that comes to mind is just how much I miss that period of my life and how much I want to go back! It was truly an amazing experience and I often look back on who I was before and after studying abroad and how much I have grown as a person.

Q: Why did you choose this destination?
A: I chose Spain because I had been studying Spanish for 5 1/2 years in school and wanted to go to a Spanish speaking country. It was also always just a dream of mine to go to Spain someday.

Q: What are some things that surprised you about the campus, the classes, the culture, customs or traditions?
A: Some things that surprised me were how late Spaniards stay up to party, how relaxed the lifestyle is there, and how school and work are simply a fraction of your life and how much of your time is spent with friends or doing what you love. Spaniards work to live, not live to work. They don�t have the constant hustle culture that Americans have. When it comes to my campus, I was attending classes at a UNESCO World Heritage site, at la Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, and the building was just beautiful. I found myself in awe that we could just have classes in such a historic building.

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 want students to know that ISA was a great program and I personally had a good experience with them, their on site staff in Spain was really fun and helpful and so is their staff in the US, I�m glad I went with this program. As far as the destination, Spain in general is an amazing country, but Barcelona specifically has become my favorite city in the entire world. It has everything to offer: big city, beach, great public transport, and a very unique culture as it is a mix of Spaniard and Catalan culture and language.

Q: What advice would you offer?
A: My advice is to just go for it, even if study abroad seems too difficult or too much work, I don�t regret anything and would do it all over again. Also, make sure you watch out for pickpockets as Europe is full of them.

Q: What was your academic goal while studying abroad?
A: Academically, I wanted to learn more about Spanish and Catalan culture and immerse myself in it, specifically why Catalonia wants to separate from the rest of Spain and how that affects political and social tensions in the country.

Question? Email Jess!

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!