As you already probably hopefully know, I am travelling to Spain once again. And I like the British spelling of "travelling" better, so deal with it, Blogger spell-check!
When I went back to school in the fall of 2009, of course I was disappointed to be back from Spain. When I am abroad, everything is new and exciting. Like,
"Look at the weird labels of things!"
"Why are Americans so ugly in comparison to Europeans!"
"Why did I just say that when there are three Spaniards with mullets/rat tails?"
"look, the Spaniards walk with their hands behind their back, even though it looks awkwardly uncomfortable!"
Then you come back to the USA, and everything is just as it was, and so much less exciting. The way people hold their hands while walking no longer keeps your interest.
I heard a rumor that you couldn't study abroad your final semester. I talked to my counselor, and it was untrue! She was like "you are done with your major, your minor, your core...why NOT!?" So I took her advice.
So, the search for a location was ON. At first, I was considering Ireland, Scotland, or England, since I could obviously speak English there. Other countries with a new language (Germany, France, Italy) didn't interest me because I knew whatever I learned about the language would quickly be forgotten. Plus, I would be unable to converse with people on the streets without a pocket translator. But, I missed most of the deadlines for these locations.
So, of course, Spanish-speaking countries came into play. I liked the USAC program before, so I wanted to do it with them again. I heard from various sources that IES was a harder, more intensive program. Not to say I want to slack, but this fall 2009 semester was HARD and I didn't want my final semester in college to be hell. So I looked at Costa Rica and Alicante (Spain). Costa Rica's course offerings were basically in the field of rainforestry (really, how many classes can you take on that?) so I looked at Alicante. I could do an internship there and take a business course or two (so I have some basic background in the topic for future endeavors) so the choice was made: Alicante, here I come.
Also, I may post some things now and then to the old blog at www.melissainspain2009.blogspot.com like some videos that pertain to San Sebastian. Therefore, keep on subscribing to that/checking that site!
