Celine's Post Trip Reflection

This past summer’s trip to Spain was an incredible journey filled with new cultural experiences and close bonding with my Ursuline friends and host family. It was such an amazing experience for me that there are no words in the English language to describe how I feel and how much I miss Spain.

I feel that I greatly benefited from this trip. I am very thankful for being given the opportunity to study at the University of Salamanca and practice my Spanish with the locals. Although I am not yet completely fluent in the language, I feel that I have greatly improved with conversation and grammar. I am also more confident in speaking the language.  In fact, this trip has made me more interested in learning all about the Spanish language and culture. The afternoon activities and especially living with a host family allowed me to indulge in the Spanish culture in person. Living their daily routine of later meals, siestas, and lots of walking brought me closer to the Spanish culture. Those two weeks alone made Spain feel like my second home.

If you asked me what my favorite part of the trip was I wouldn’t be able to decide; the classes at the University, the delicious food of Basi (my host mother), the live music in the narrow cobble stone streets, shopping and eating ice cream in the plaza, etc. I am eager to say that I enjoyed EVERY SINGLE part on the trip. It didn’t bother me that we didn’t have air conditioning in most places or that we had to walk many, many miles around the city. Even when I had to study for the final exams I enjoyed it because every single day I was there and every day afterward, I think of how fortunate I am to have joined the API by Aspire program. I enjoyed making memories and becoming very close to some girls I hadn’t known before the trip. I definitely recommend traveling with Ursuline to the beautiful county of Spain. Thank you to everyone who made this trip possible and memorable.