PHOTO|
“I never thought I’d have this opportunity to go. So, I took it and I actually had fun,” said Brisa Hernandez-Cervantes, who went on ATU’s study abroad trip to Spain last summer. A similar trip is planned by the university this summer.
Hernandez-Cervantes, a senior biochemistry major from Russellville, Arkansas, stayed in Salamanca, Spain, and attended classes Monday to Friday from about 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. She said she and other students took the 10-minute walk to school every day.
“We walked everywhere, and I was always doing something,” said Hernandez-Cervantes. “I was worried about driving once I got back because it had been a month since I had driven.”
Hernandez-Cervantes explained that the main difference between her Spanish classes in Arkansas and the classes she took in Spain were shown through a difference in language. In Spain, they spoke Spain-Spanish, which she was not as used to.
“We had to get used to each other’s Spanish. We were learning from [our instructor] but she was also learning from us,” said Hernandez-Cervantes.
She said there were other things she had to get used to, such as staying up late and then waking up late, naps after class, recycling being incredibly important, not as much air conditioning as the United States, and having to take shorter showers than she was used to.
The trip did not only include classes.
“We went on different trips each weekend in Spain. We actually went to Portugal one weekend,” said Hernandez-Cervantes. “We spoke only Spanish in Spain but in Portugal, English was spoken more so we switched for a weekend.”
In her advice for students planning to attend the 2024 study abroad trip, Hernandez-Cervantes stressed the importance of having fun.
“It’s a really good experience. It’s completely different than here in the United States. “Don’t take it too seriously. Just have fun,” Hernandez-Cervantes said.
Applications are available for ATU students interested in getting college credit while studying abroad in Spain this summer. The travel dates for this trip are June 19-July 15. For more information or to ask any questions, contact Dr. Alejandra Carballo at [email protected].
