Santa Clara University

Sara Seghezzo '09

Peer Advisor: Special Projects Coordinator

I studied abroad through IES in Barcelona, Spain during Fall 07. When deciding on the program, Spain appealed to me because I had never been to Spain and the Barcelona program was open to people who had never studied Spanish before. Additionally, Barcelona was appealing because of great location (right on the beach) and the option to do home stays. As a biology major, I saw abroad as a time to take a break from science classes and take advantage of living abroad. For example, in one of my classes we studied Dali, Miro and Picasso, and as part of the class, we were able to visit each museum and rather than have our teacher lecture on a slide about the painting, she spoke about the painting with the original one behind her.

Some of my most fond memories of Santa Clara come from my study abroad experience, whether it was dancing on tables at Oktoberfest, getting chased by demons at the Fire Run in Barcelona or deciphering the Prague train schedule, each and every moment of study abroad experience is something I will never forget. I also learned so much about the Spanish and more specifically Spanish culture living in Barcelona and I see things differently, and with more of an open mind, now that I have studied abroad. I also learned so much about Europe and had the opportunity to travel to 8 countries in 4 months and visit numerous Spanish and European cities.

Advice that I would give is don't go where all of your friends go. Research a program that you think will best fit you. Every study abroad program is filled with amazing people and you will have the time of your life. Plus, if you are not in the same country as your friends, it gives you an even better excuse to go travel and visit them!