I was part of a two-month study abroad program to Santander, Spain and it was one of the best experiences of my life. Santander is a relatively small city on the coast of northern Spain in the Autonomous Community Cantabria.

The whole experience was truly amazing because I got to experience so many new and wonderful things. Up until coming to Spain, I had never seen an ocean in real life before, let alone gone to or set foot in one, this was something that I got to do while I was in Santander. Another happy bonus of going to Spain, more specifically coastal Spain was that I was able try a lot of new kinds of food especially seafood, which I do not usually get many chances to eat in the United States.

While I was in Santander, I was able to gain a more detailed in depth understanding of the culture of the country, from religion to holidays that only get celebrated in Spain. Most importantly I was able to meet some truly incredible people who taught me a lot from how to make paella to differences between the two countries’ education systems. All of these new experiences and the lessons they taught me are things that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Name: Laurel Etter
Status: Senior
Major: Spanish
Hometown: Allen Park, Michigan
Program: Spanish Language, Literature, and Culture in Santander