Greenheart Travel

Author: Harley Chase

The Student Visa Process Broken Down Step-By-Step

If you’ve ever gone abroad before you have most likely had to fill out some sort of international documents and paperwork. It’s a drag. Who wants to fill out what seems like form after form when you could be creating a travel itinerary of all of the places you are dreaming of going! However, this paperwork plays an important part in keeping you safe and accounted for while traveling abroad. More often than not, your duration and reason for travel determine how much paperwork and planning you have to do.

This blog will serve as a guide to my experience with obtaining a Student Visa at the Spanish Consulate in Chicago. Currently, I am nearing the end of the process of applying for a Spanish Student Visa. I will be studying at the Universidad de Sevilla in Seville, Spain next year for nine months and couldn’t be more thrilled!

Don’t know what a visa is? Click here.

To be honest, I’ve never really minded filling out paperwork, especially when it came to cultural exchange; I knew it meant that I was one step closer to getting off that plane and interacting with locals. However, I’m going to be frank and say that this application was no walk in the park. Because I will be studying in Spain for over 90 days, I needed to apply for a student visa, and because I would be staying over 6 months, there were additional documents I needed to obtain.

Before I could even start on all of this paperwork, I needed to figure out where my closest Spanish Consulate was and make an appointment no sooner than three months before the start of my university classes. Since I live in Michigan, the closest consulate was in Chicago, a place where I luckily know quite a few people (Greenheart Travel 💚). With my appointment date set, I got to work on the long list of things I needed to acquire.

National Visa Application

I got this from off of the consulate’s website and filled it out with some help from my program coordinator. This form needs to be completed in capital letters and with DD/MM/YYYY format. Once it was filled out, I glued one of my passport photos to it and made a copy.

Money Order

For the Chicago Spanish Consulate, the current fee for a student visa was $160. They do not accept cash or check so I went to my post office to get a money order. I paperclipped this to my application form.

Prepaid/ Pre-addressed USPS Priority Express Envelope and Disclaimer Form

This envelope is a bit pricey ($30 ish) but guarantees that your documents will be delivered quickly and safely. I put the consulate’s address on the “From” and my home address on “To.” The disclaimer form is found on the instructions form from the consulate and states that you are allowing the consulate to mail your passport with the visa back to you.

Original Passport and ID

A passport was something I luckily had already so there was no extra paperwork there. Keep in mind that generally, a valid passport is one that will not expire for at least six months after the date you leave the foreign country. I photocopied my passport as well as my university student ID, and my driver’s license. Be sure to bring your actual passport and cards to the appointment as well.

Two Passport Photos

I got these taken at the study abroad office on my university’s campus for $3, but you can get these taken at a lot of places like the post office or Walgreens.

Original Hardcopy Acceptance Letter, Evidence of Funds, and Proof of Health Insurance

Since I am going through a study abroad provider, this was all taken care of and sent to me.

All three of these needed to be in Spanish or have a translation. The acceptance letter was to prove I was enrolled as a full-time student, the evidence of funds was to assure that I would be able to pay for my program, and the proof of health insurance was to cover any medical fees I might obtain during my stay. I made a copy of each of these forms.

Medical Certificate (For stays over 180 days)

On the consulate’s website, this is one of two additional forms to print out for stays over 180 days. I just made a normal appointment for a physical and brought in the paper. This form states that you are in good physical and mental health and do not have pre-existing conditions. There was a little confusion at my appointment as the form had a Spanish translation of what it said in English that needed to be stamped and signed as well. Because there wasn’t a translator in my doctor’s office that day they wouldn’t stamp it (surprising for a town that has a significant Hispanic population), so I had to come back the next week when the translator was in. I made a copy of this form.

FBI Background Check with an Apostille (For stays over 180 days)

This document was definitely the most frustrating and tiring of them all. It began by going through a service called Accurate Biometrics (there are a few to choose from) to get my fingerprints scanned and sent to the FBI to run the background check. This was relatively easy as I made an appointment online then went into a FedEx office for the scan. It cost about $40 and took just about ten minutes. My results were sent to me the next day through my email.

This is when it became difficult. I needed to get an Apostille of the Hague Convention (this is a kind of “stamp” that makes the document internationally recognized) issued by the US Department of State in Washington DC. I hadn’t received any direction on what this was or how to get it so I emailed my program coordinator and went on the government website. Since I had a little over a month until my appointment at the consulate, I decided not to go through an expensive apostille service and just send it to the Office of Authentications myself. In my envelope, I needed to include my FBI background check, an apostille request form (called a DS-4194), a check for $8 (that was the fee for my document), and a pre-paid addressed USPS envelope for them to send me my document back.

I had read that this would take about 10 or 12 days. When it got to be around that point, I called the office to check my document status. After waiting about 20 minutes on hold, they told me that I was not in the system and that it must be in their mail room still being sorted. I knew I should’ve gotten tracking for this envelope… I called back multiple times over the next couple days and got the same response every time. I started to panic a little as my visa appointment quickly approached. With an urge from my study abroad coordinator, I swallowed my pride and contacted an apostille service. Because I didn’t have much time left before my appointment I was forced to get the “rush” service which was about $300 altogether.

With $300 drained from my bank account, but a bit more peace of mind, I waited for my last document to arrive. It came by mail with 3 days before my appointment. Because this also had to be translated into Spanish, I went through the company One Hour Translation. With my FBI background check and the Apostille, it was around $45 and was sent back to me within 50 minutes. After I received these last forms, I compiled everything into an envelope and waited for my appointment.

But you’ll never guess what showed up in the mail the day before my appointment…

My ORIGINAL FBI background check with Apostille. Yes, the one I DIDN’T have to pay $300 for… My only advice is – buy tracking for your envelopes.

The Appointment

On the day of my appointment, I woke up pretty early to catch a train from Michigan City, IN to Chicago. I got to the consulate a bit early; because there wasn’t a sign in sheet, I sat down and waited to be called. Once called up to the window, I handed over all of my documents and passport. The official checked them all and handed back the originals (to be used while in Spain) and kept the copies. All that was left to do was give him my envelope and disclaimer form. This appointment took no more than 5 minutes. He even thanked me for being so organized and following the instructions!

To be honest, this process was probably one of the hardest and most mentally taxing things I’ve ever had to do. However, I know I truly am one step closer to experiencing new changes; changes that will introduce new people, insights, and ideas to my life.

This post is an example of a student’s perspective of applying for a student visa. This is not a step-by-step guide for applying for student visas. Each country (and each consulate) has different requirements. While Greenheart cannot apply for your visa for you, we provide detailed application instructions and support during the application process.

June 27, 2019
Why Your Cultural Exchange Shouldn’t End with Your Program

Many can attest to the underlying heartbroken feeling that often accompanies the return from a life-changing cultural exchange program. Sure, on the surface you are still somewhat riding the rollercoaster; you’re posting throwback pictures on your Instagram, handing out souvenirs to your friends and family you’ve reunited with, and relishing in the longer shower that you never could have taken in your host family’s house. However, as you settle back into your new normal, you can’t help but feel like something’s off.

I tend to relate this feeling of “Reverse Culture Shock” to the moments after you finish the last book in your favorite series. You had just turned the last page expecting for something to follow but all that is staring back at you is blank paper. So you close the book and sort of wander around in a daze, reminiscing the story that you have been a part of. What are you supposed to do now that it’s over?

While your program may have come to an end, that doesn’t mean you should forget about all that you’ve learned or the people you met along the way! When you have such a transformative experience, such as a cultural exchange program, it kickstarts a passion for learning that will continue the rest of your life!

After I returned from my program studying in Spain, I noticed that I began comparing my lifestyle in the United States with the lifestyle that I had just returned from experiencing in Spain. For example, during one of my first few days back home my mom and I went to the grocery store. I was wearing shorts and a t-shirt as it was the end of August and pretty hot outside. As we entered the store, I started to shiver uncontrollably. The air conditioning in the store was so cold; I swear I could see my breath! While in Spain, I had gotten used to having almost no air conditioning, as many Europeans think of it as an unnecessary waste of energy. Although I do appreciate being able to escape the heat in summer, I think the United States may go a little overboard with the AirCon. These comparisons that I made upon returning home helped me to not only readjust but also to be more critical about my home country.

Here are some other ways your cultural exchange can help shape your next steps!

1. Talk to People

In the weeks that follow your return home, you’ll get SO MANY questions about your time abroad! Try not to get too offended when people refer to your program as a “trip” even though you had lived there for months. Many people often don’t realize that that can make your experience feel like it’s being belittled. What you can do is perhaps host a get-together and show friends and family pictures and talk about some stories or highlights of your time abroad! Through educating people on your host country and the people you met you could possibly unravel stereotypes about your host community. By hosting an event like this you are showing what this time abroad meant to you. It could even encourage them to think about planning their own cultural exchange experience!

2. Network

After coming home from your program, there’s no doubt you’ll miss all of the people you met and friends you made. Make sure you stay in contact with them! Since I lived in a student residence for part of my program, I was able to meet people from all around the world! Because I’ve kept in contact with them I’ve been able to visit a few of them in their home countries! Last summer I visited my friend in the UK and we traveled to Ireland together! If I hadn’t have met her in Spain that trip would never have happened. Later this summer, my roommate from Spain is planning on coming to visit me in my city; it works both ways! Going abroad gives you chances to return abroad!

3. Another Program

I don’t know about everyone else, but when I went abroad my first time, I knew it wouldn’t be my last. The main reason I went on a program during high school was to figure out if studying abroad in college was something I could be interested in. I’m happy to announce that I’ll be doing just that this upcoming fall and spring semester! My cultural exchange experience introduced me to so many amazing opportunities. It sparked a passion not just for learning about cultures but learning about becoming a global citizen. So for those of you that are finishing up a program or maybe have been done for a while but still have that unsettled “end of your book” feeling, I encourage you to look into a new adventure; a new book. You could try Teaching in a Homestay in Chile or Volunteer at a Dog Rescue in Thailand! Whatever you do, you’re bound to learn more about yourself and how you can connect people and planet through growing your cultural perspective!

May 22, 2019
5 Things I Learned While Studying Spanish in Salamanca

Here we are back in the United States. Not going to lie, I cried a little bit boarding my plane home. Mainly, because I was so sleep deprived, but also because I was realizing how much I’d come to love and cherish Spain during my language camp in Salamanca. I thought back to my first time walking into the Madrid airport and how I was physically shaking with the excitement of being in a new country, about to start the adventure of a lifetime. Little did I know, it would go by in the blink of an eye.

Here is what I’ve learned during my program in Spain:

Emmy Scott with her luggage and a Greenheart Travel sticker.

Airport Confidence

I’ve become confident in navigating airports and deciding if I really do have time to walk halfway across one for Starbucks.

Pro tip: Probably shouldn’t unless you have at least an hour to kill.

Emmy Scott with friends in Spain.

Making International Friends was Easier than Expected

Making friends wasn’t half as hard as I had imagined. I’m so glad I’ve become so close with so many people from around the world. I was blessed with some real gems. Now I have reasons to visit so many more exciting places to see them!

Full Immersion Really Does Improve Spanish Fluency

While I still have a long way to go on the road to fluency, my Spanish has improved a great deal after being immersed for a month and a half! Before going abroad, I felt scared to enter conversations, in fear of getting lost in the many words and tenses I wasn’t familiar with.

However, after so much practice, I get excited to use what I know now! One of best friend’s moms back home, who is Hispanic, has even invited me over for dinner to talk in Spanish about my experience! I’m also thinking of either double majoring or minoring in Spanish in college next year.

Emmy Scott seeing the sights in Spain.

Traveling is Part of My Life Now

This experience helped me to really dive into thinking about how I can incorporate traveling into my life in the future. Right now I’m set on studying abroad in university (probably coming back to you, España), and hopefully getting TEFL certified by Greenheart Travel, of course. The world is so big, and I get excited with every piece of it I uncover.

Looking out over a Spanish city.

Spain is a New Home

I’ve learned that you can have more than one home. I can still picture my walk to school every day and can hardly believe that it’s 4000 miles away. It definitely holds a special place in my heart now, and I know that I will be coming back real soon.

Gracias a…

I want to thank everyone at Estudio Sampere for being so kind to me and teaching me all about the Spanish language and its culture. Ibán, Joaquín, Maricha, and Mariana were the best teachers I could have asked for, and made my experience in the classroom and excursions so much better.

I would also like to thank all of the staff at Greenheart Travel for your kindness and giving me the privilege to run this sweet blog! Don’t worry, I’ll be back for more traveling with you guys in the near future!

I’d also like to thank all of the readers on here for following along, and I hope I sparked a little bit of wanderlust in at least one of you!

About the Author:

Emmy Scott is 17 years old, from Sparta, Michigan and our 2017 Greenheart Travel Correspondent scholarship winner. Traveling to our language camp in Salamanca, she is “over the moon excited to travel to Spain because it will have lifelong effects on how I look at the big world around me.” Follow her adventures here!

Make traveling part of your life. Spain is the perfect place to start!

August 30, 2017
How to Take Your Spanish Language Lessons Out of the Classroom and into the Community

I’m entering my last week here in this wonderful country of Spain, and I have been immensely blessed with every opportunity and experience that I’ve had here during my language camp. But how did it go by so fast?!

This week I’ve been looking back and really realizing how much I’ve grown and how much my language skills have grown too! In the beginning, I was so scared I wouldn’t be able to understand anyone! My first day of classes, I tested into level 3 and was given some really great teachers (this week I got bumped up to level 4!). Sometimes it was hard and I had to ask for help, but they always made sure everyone was on the same page.

While the idea of having everyone around you speak a different language may seem daunting, it’s actually not that bad! It’s been really cool to communicate with an entirely new group of people that I wouldn’t have been able to speak to before.

However, using my Spanish was not only reserved for formal studies. Despite having an international group of students, here are some of the ways I’ve used my Spanish language lessons outside of the classroom.

Speaking Spanish with other Students

At the language school, there are students from all over the world. I’m thrilled to have friends in so many places now! However, if I wouldn’t have used my Spanish to talk to some of them who weren’t as comfortable with English, I wouldn’t have been able to have the pleasure of meeting them.

My advice is to not be scared to talk to people while you’re here (or in general…). Everyone here is looking for friends too; start a conversation, you won’t regret it.

Become a Regular at Salamanca Coffee

My first week I stumbled in here and have been a regular ever since. My usual order is a frozen, freshly squeezed orange smoothie, and a chocolate croissant. The workers are all very nice and are really good at working with whatever Spanish skills you come in with.

Also, when you buy something you get two hours of super fast wifi! Can you guess where I am right now?! 😂

Connecting with the Locals

Salamanca is beautiful in its views and in its people. The people of Salamanca are always willing to help you; whether that being taking a group picture of you and some friends in the plaza, or giving some directions to the best restaurant in town. ( *cough* Rua Mayor)

The other day I was hammocking in a park near where I live, and I had multiple people come up and say “¡Hola! ¡Buenos Dias!”. One person even offered to show me around the park! So the next morning we took a walk together and they showed me the local’s view of the city.

I also had a few conversations with people, mainly asking where I’m from and if I’m enjoying Salamanca. These conversations really gave me some confidence in speaking and allowed to me learn more about my city.

I couldn’t have asked for a better second home than this place, and I know it will be very hard to leave in a few days. I will always look back at my time here with the best of memories and I am certain in the fact that this isn’t goodbye, it’s hasta luego.

About the Author:

Emmy Scott is 17 years old, from Sparta, Michigan and our 2017 Greenheart Travel Correspondent scholarship winner. Traveling to our language camp in Salamanca, she is “over the moon excited to travel to Spain because it will have lifelong effects on how I look at the big world around me.” Follow her adventures here!

August 15, 2017
Tips on What to Pack, Phrases to Know and How to Prepare for Your Language Camp in Salamanca
Would you look at that, I’ve been in the beautiful country of Spain for almost a month (well 26 days!). I learn new things about this city every time I step out my front door, and always seem to find myself in new places! I even get lost sometimes, but not too lost!

Before I came to Salamanca for my Spanish language camp, I spent the majority of my time leading up to my departure reading travel blogs. I think I’d read every single blog post on Greenheart Travel’s website; I was determined to be ready. So I thought I would add to the hundreds of posts and write a blog about my tips and tricks for living in “The Manca” (SalaMANCA).

TIPS AND TRICKS for LIVING IN SALAMANCA

There are so many places to see, but be prepared for the heat while site-seeing!

Be prepared to be really hot basically all the time.

Tank tops, shorts, and sandals are a must. This also means that you definitely NEED to bring AND USE sunscreen and aloe.

Bring clothes you love wearing

Not only will you feel your best every day and look great in all your pictures, you’ll also be less apt to buy a whole new wardrobe. But in all honesty, that’ll probably happen anyway.

Budgets

If you’re going on a longer program like me, I would advise you to take out money at the beginning of the week and try to make it last the whole 7 days without using a debit card as well. It’s pretty easy once you get used to it!

Bring a positive attitude!!

I know every day won’t be fantastic, but who knows when you’ll be in that country again. You may not like every activity or excursion, but there are always ways to have fun and learn at them. Try to see something positive in each situation. This language camp is, as it is with all programs, what you make of it. That goes for learning too!

Walking shoes are a must when packing for Salamanca; you never know what you will stumble upon while wandering.

SOME OF MY FAVORITE ITEMS I PACKED for SPAIN

Converters

Duh I know, but make sure you bring least two.

Power Strip

Plug a converter on the end of this and you have all the outlets you’ll need without having to buy converters for everything. P.S. I’ve noticed there aren’t many outlets in bedrooms here.

Portable Battery

You have pictures to take and need Google Maps to bring you back home at night, (hopefully not more than once). You don’t have time for a dead phone battery.

Small/Medium Backpack

Great for Saturday excursions and holding your school stuff.

Comfortable Tennis Shoes

The Spanish walk a lot. Everywhere. #LegDayEveryday

HELPFUL SPANISH PHRASES to KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
- ¿Puedes repetir?/ Can you repeat?
- ¿Cuanto cuesta?/ How much( is this)?
- ¿Dónde está…?/ Where is…?
- Para aquí o Para llevar/ To have here or to have to go
- Vale/Okay
- ¿Hablas inglés?/ Do you speak english?
Thanks for reading! Next blog is in a few weeks! Next week I will also be doing a Snapchat takeover on Greenheart’s account! ¡Hasta Luego!

Add both our Snapchat accounts below to get a first-hand look of my time here in Salamanca!
- Greenheart’s: greenhearttravl
- Mine: emmyscott123 💚💚💚
About the Author:

Emmy Scott is 17 years old, from Sparta, Michigan and our 2017 Greenheart Travel Correspondent scholarship winner. Traveling to our language camp in Salamanca, she is “over the moon excited to travel to Spain because it will have lifelong effects on how I look at the big world around me.” Follow her adventures here!
July 29, 2017
A Glance at a Day in My Life as a Spanish Language Camp Student
Everyone was right; my first two weeks at my language camp here in Salamanca, Spain have truly flown by. Every day is full of new experiences and (while it may sound a little lame) lots of learning! In the beginning, my schedule was a little sporadic but it has since fallen into more of a rhythm. So without further adieu, here is “más or menos” (more or less) what a typical day in the life of a student in Salamanca, Spain is like:

Wake up: 10am – 10:30am

Since I’ve been here I’ve been blessed with afternoon classes. So that means I have a little more time to sleep in the morning. However, many of my friends have morning classes (9am) and haven’t had much trouble adjusting to them.

Breakfast: 11am

When my roommate and I wake up we usually hear our host mom, Juany, making us some food. In Spain, breakfast isn’t very big, so our typical dish has been, toast, an egg, and some hot chocolate. She then sends us on our way with a sack lunch ( A sandwich, fruit, and water.)

Meet with friends and finish homework: 11:30am – 12pm

After breakfast, we meet up with some friends, and finish our homework (very minimal) from the day before in one of Salamanca’s many cafés.

School 2pm – 3:30pm

My first class of the day is with a really nice teacher, (they’re all super nice) named Joaquin. We do a few lessons in our workbooks and always share out loud. Sometimes it’s a little scary, but they’re there to help you learn and get better.

Break 3:30pm – 4pm

This break is between our two classes and is a really nice time to get a coffee or eat a little snack from one of the plentiful vending machines. Explore new snacks!

School 4pm – 5:30pm

This is my second class and it’s with a teacher named Ivan. He’s a really nice teacher, too. What I like about the teachers at language camp is that they are always quick to learn your name and are comfortable joking around with you.

Activity 5:30pm – 7pm

Ivan and Joaquin usually run these and most of the time make them pretty fun. So far we have done:
- A brief tour of Salamanca
- Sports (little outdoor games in teams, soccer balls, etc.)
- Dancing (personally I’m not a huge fan of dancing but it was a good experience I suppose)
- Eating and learning about authentic food of Spain
Activity is a good time to meet more people in the program, especially if they’re in different classes than you!

Free time 7pm – dinner time (for me it’s 9pm)

During this time I usually hang out with friends in the plaza, a café, our favorite garden, or go shopping. There’s a lot to do in this time since this is when most people seem to be around town. This is also a great time to explore!

Dinner 9pm – 10pm

For me, dinner is at 9pm, but it just depends on your host family. Our host mom, Juany, always makes really delicious food and always gives us more than we can eat! My favorite dish she makes is spaghetti noodles in an alfredo sauce with bits of “jamón” or ham (famous in Salamanca).

Nightlife in Salamanca 10:30 – 1am (ish)

Salamanca is gorgeous all the time but when they turn on the lights in the Plaza Mayor, it isn’t unusual for you to hear clapping. Night time is a great time for ice cream with friends, looking at the sights in a different light, or just people watching.

My tips for future students studying abroad with a host family:
- Be courteous
-Remember to keep your room clean, come home on curfew, and make sure that when they’re showing you how to use their weird spanish door, you pay attention so you won’t have to wake them up to let you in at 1am.
- Getting lost is sometimes a good thing
-My first night here, our house moms brought us to the Plaza Mayor and showed us where the school was. After, they told us it didn’t matter what time we came home. All of us were having fun and exploring until we realized we had no idea how to get home. We walked in a huge circle and eventually found our way. But I’m glad for that walk, as it was full of laughs and excitement for living in our new city.

Emmy enjoying the sites in Salamanca.
- Try new things
The first few days are going to be full of a lot of “firsts”. While that can be overwhelming sometimes, I promise you will eventually adjust. These firsts don’t have to be something very thrilling either. It could simply be, your first time sitting in a ~Spanish~ park. Or just adventuring into a new fruit market.

Let me know if you have any questions in the comments or if you want, you can add me on snapchat to follow the daily adventures! Snapchat: emmyscott123

Happy adventuring! 💚

About the Author:

Emmy Scott is 17 years old, from Sparta, Michigan and our 2017 Greenheart Travel Correspondent scholarship winner. Traveling to our language camp in Salamanca, she is “over the moon excited to travel to Spain because it will have lifelong effects on how I look at the big world around me.” Follow her adventures here!
July 13, 2017
Student Spotlight on Emmy Scott: Greenheart’s Newest Travel Correspondent in Spain

Greenheart Travel is excited to send a group of amazing travelers to study and volunteer abroad as part of our 2017 Travel Correspondent and Global Explorer Scholarship awards. To help introduce our inspiring writers, we are doing a series of spotlight interviews to help you get to know a little more about who they are, where they will be headed and what inspired them to travel abroad.

Read on to meet 17-year-old, Emmy Scott, our Greenheart Travel Correspondent from Sparta, Michigan, who’ll be traveling abroad to study Spanish at our Teen Summer Language Camp in Spain!

What’s your favorite thing to do in your free time?

Petting dogs and enjoying nature from the comfort of my hammock.

I’m also a huge theatre nerd. I’ve been in 16 productions and have been blessed with so many great friendships from it. You can catch me singing show tunes basically all day long.

Another thing that really interests me is music. I’m in our school band (no that’s not a lame as it sounds) and am the section leader for the Front Ensemble. I play the Marimba, which is pretty much this huge wooden xylophone.

Have you traveled abroad before?

I’ve traveled to Canada a few times and went on a cruise when I was younger but I don’t remember too much.

What got you interested in learning a new language and traveling abroad?

My Spanish classes in middle and high school definitely sparked an interest in not only Hispanic culture, but many others as well. I don’t think I’d be going where I’m going if it wasn’t for them.

What are you most excited about experiencing or seeing during your language camp?

Honestly, I’m super excited to dig into some authentic food! I’m really looking forward to the different architecture and traditions as well.

Why do you feel it’s important to travel to a new place and learn a new language?

I feel it’s important to travel and learn new languages because it opens your eyes to different traditions, food, and experiences that you otherwise wouldn’t have. It also expands your social circle; imagine being able to talk to entirely new group of people!

What are you nervous about?

I’m a little nervous about the Spanish custom of “dos besos.” I don’t usually get that close to people’s faces! However, I’m sure I’ll become used to it as my time progresses in Spain.

How well do you speak a second language at this point?

I feel that I am at a higher intermediate level of Spanish understanding. I am mostly confident in reading and writing, okay at listening, but I get a bit nervous when I need to put together sentences that are more complex.

How do you think you will change the most during your time abroad?

I think I will become a much more independent person who will continue to grow in my sense of self and have an even stronger appreciation for Spanish people and their culture.

June 27, 2017