By Bea Zafra
I have dreamt about living in the US ever since I was a child and now, thanks to ISEP, I made my dream into reality incredibly easily. As a Spanish girl who was raised watching Disney Channel, things that might be normal for American people, like living on campus in college, going to the cheerleaders’ tryouts, and watching hockey games, made me feel like I was constantly in a movie.
From the very beginning I was super excited about studying abroad in the US, so immediately after I got placed at the University of Vermont (UVM), I started following my university account on social media. Doing some research, I came across the UVM cheerleading account and I sent them a message asking if I could do the tryouts as an exchange student without having any experience, just for fun, as it is something we don’t have in college here in Spain.
I got a quick response from a girl confirming my question and asking me a lot of things —like where I was coming from, for how long I was going to stay in the US… We texted each other daily for months and, eventually, she told me she was going to come to Seville (Spain) for a month. As I live in Málaga (a city which is very close by), we decided to meet up there so we would get to know each other before I moved to Vermont. We got on amazingly well and she told me that, when I arrived in Vermont, she would pick me up at the airport, take me to my student residence, and show me around.
I should admit that having a friend from the very beginning made me feel so much more comfortable. She introduced me to her friends and, once I got to know the exchange students, I introduced her to them. But don’t worry if you don’t know anyone before leaving your country! Exchange students are usually very friendly as all of you are in the same situation, so everyone’s up for making new connections. I myself went on a trip with my new friends the second weekend after I arrived!
Traveling within the US —and to Canada as it’s super close to Vermont— was one of the best things I’ve done during my time abroad. I got to visit incredible places: New York, Montreal, Boston, Miami, and Puerto Rico. I was so close to New York that I could go there four times! I even celebrated my 21st birthday in New York City! How cool is that?! All these trips were amazing, I’ll remember them for the rest of my life.
However, I also had a blast in Vermont: I saw the most beautiful autumn, I experienced the American Halloween parties, I was invited to the Thanksgiving dinner at my friend’s house in Chelmsford, I enjoyed the snow and learned how to ski… I honestly couldn’t have asked for more.
Last but not least, I can proudly say that I’ve academically challenged myself. Even though I was already quite good at English, having all your classes in a second language is not always easy. My understanding of the language has skyrocketed.
Furthermore, as an economics and business student, learning things such as how to successfully run a company, the keys to investing, or how to manage your finances —all from an American perspective—have enriched me immensely in terms of my professional development.
I had the time of my life and, if I was offered the opportunity of going abroad again, I’d a hundred percent take it without hesitation!
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