Almería – Spring 2025
Dhruti Sheth
Double Degree – Psychology B.S. and MLLI Spanish B.A. on Pre-Law Track
Studying abroad can be such a nerve wrecking yet rewarding experience. I remember when I first got to Almería, I was so upset, I thought I was going to hate the place and not be able to make any friends but with a little adjustment period, I was truly able to fall in love with Almería. Almería is a small town in the Southern Andalusian region of Spain. I chose to come to Almería because I had always wanted to come to Spain growing up, so it would be like a dream come true. The weather, people, and culture is so beautiful and relaxing. I also study Spanish so I thought it would be an amazing opportunity to really immerse myself into the language and culture. I knew that I did not want to go to a large city like Barcelona and Madrid where I would get lost within the crowd of tourists and not be able to practice my Spanish as practically everyone speaks English there. Thus Almería was perfect for me as I was forced to converse in Spanish with locals as they do not speak any English there. At the same time, the Universidad de Almería hosts hundreds of international students every year allowing me to meet students like me from all over the world and making cherished connections and friendships with various people teaching me so much about other cultures alongside the Spanish culture.
While at the Universidad de Almería, I took classes fully in Spanish, really helping me grow academically and linguistically. I took classes focused in literature, history, and culture; Cine, Cultura, y Sociedad, Historia del Mundo Actual, Introducción a la Literatura, and Literatura Hispanoamericana. I was able to learn so much in these classes and truly be able to hone in on my Spanish skills. The Spanish education system is quite different from the American education system in that they do not give any homework or assignments throughout the semester, it is mostly projects and a final exam. This can be both amazing and difficult, with all the time during the semester. Difficult due to the fact that your entire grade for most classes were based solely on a final exam but at the same time it is amazing as I was able to travel greatly across Spain and visit nearby countries like France, Italy, and Morocco. Additionally, I got the pleasure of meeting up with my fellow Humanities Scholar, Kendal Howell, in Southern France!
I had the great pleasure of living less than 2 minutes from the beach, so I definitely spent a great deal of my time at the beach and watching sunsets/sunrises, as you can see in the photo. A lesson that I learned from Andalusian people is definitely the importance of siesta, the art of taking a nap after lunch. Most people might view this as lazy or a waste of time but to me, it truly shows how much people prioritize their mental health. From what I saw and experienced, the locals truly attempted to enjoy life by taking things slowly including their lifestyle or eating habits. I appreciate that so much as we in America, atleast from my experiences, tend to get caught up in the fast paced life all about running after success and money at the cost of our peace and mental health. But I want to incorporate this lesson of peace and tranquility into my life back home and moving forward as well!
Overall, studying abroad has been the best experience of my entire life. Aside from academics, studying abroad is so rewarding as you learn so much about yourself as a person. You truly get the opportunity to grow as an independent individual in control of all of your decisions. You learn so many lessons in your daily life and from the people around you! Studying abroad isn’t necessarily always easy, it may be difficult with being consciously aware at all times, always thinking in a new language, and at times having to encounter uncertain situations. But these experiences show you that you are much stronger and smarter than you think you are and really help you be more of an adaptable person. The memories, friendships, lessons, and excitement will always live with you even when you come back home and move forward in your life!
P.S. The photo of the parachute man is called an Indalo, it is the symbol of Almería. It represents good luck, peace, protection, love, health, and prosperity. It is said that if you give someone a indalo charm souvenior then you are blessing them with good luck!