My Adventure in Review

To conclude my study abroad journey, I have been reliving my time in Spain. Overall, I had a great experience, and I would highly recommend studying in Valencia. Throughout this blog, I will be sharing some of the most memorable aspects of my time in Spain.

Housing

During my time in Valencia, Spain, I stayed with a host family. My host family was a woman and her dog, though some of my friends had larger families that they lived with. Overall, this was a great experience. I was super excited to have a dog in the house. I also had a roommate, which I felt made it easier to adapt to this new environment. Living with a host family is definitely a challenge and will put you out of your comfort zone, but it will ultimately build your confidence.

A senior adult woman and a young adult man smiling and embracing in front of an apartment building.

A brown dog with long, wavy fur sits on a gray tiled floor, looking directly at the camera with a happy expression. A table with a dog-themed tablecloth is to the right, and a glass door leads to a balcony in the background.

Two teenagers, a girl with braids and a boy, smiling at the camera while sitting at a table with breakfast items and a laptop.

Our host mom made us breakfast every day, which consisted of toast, fruit, and yogurt. This picture was our last breakfast together. For lunch, we typically brought a sandwich to school because we didn’t have enough time to go back home. Like a typical Spanish dinner, we ate at 9:30 pm, which is very late for what I was used to, but it only took a little bit of adjustment.

A cozy bedroom with a single bed, a desk with a lamp, a mirror, and shelves.

My room was small but the perfect size for the amount of time I was there. The apartments are often hot with no air conditioning, so I definitely utilized the window and the shade. It was sad leaving my room, and I miss it already.

Food

While you are abroad, you will be given the opportunity to try many different foods, including fast food. McDonald's might not be first on your mind when trying food abroad, but I highly recommend it. My favorite was the fries with cheese and bacon. I typically ate it for a snack after school. I like to try McDonald's everywhere because the menu is different in every country.

A vibrant market stall showcasing an abundance of fresh, ripe produce including large red tomatoes, yellow bananas, green avocados, and brown kiwis, with price signs in Euros.

Valencian tomatoes are different from your average tomato. I personally think they are amazing. Pan con tomate, or bread with tomato, is served at most Spanish restaurants. It is a slice of bread, slightly toasted with a tomato spread on top. The tomato spread also includes a little bit of olive oil, salt, and garlic.

Close-up of crispy pork belly bites served on a bronze platter with a side of dipping sauce.

This was one of my favorite tapas called torrenzo. I ate so many different tapas, but in my opinion, you can never get sick of them.

The City

Three young women smiling and posing for a selfie inside a vehicle with modern architecture visible through the window.

Taking public transport in Valencia is a must. It was super easy to figure out and convenient to go to most places. Since I don't live in a big city, it was my first time using public transport as the main way to get around.

Three emergency vehicles, including two police cars and a fire truck, parked on a street with colorful smoke rising in the background above trees in Valencia, Spain.

I enjoyed taking part in Valencian traditions. My friends and I went to this fireworks show in the center of the city. This is not your average firework show; it is more about sound and less about the lights and colors. At the end, there is the grand finale, which was so loud I couldn't hear for a few minutes after.

Travel

While abroad, you might as well take the opportunity to travel around Europe and/or neighboring countries while they are close by. I traveled to Barcelona, Madrid, and Xativa. The train system in Spain is super easy to navigate, and you can get tickets for cheap depending on where and when you want to go. Other people in my program also traveled to Italy, Morocco, and Ibiza.

An elevated view of the Church of Sant Jaume Apostol in Moncada, Valencia, featuring a bell tower with a clock and a large dome.

Equestrian statue of a man on a horse in a city square in front of a multi-story building.

A close-up, low-angle shot of the intricate spires and crosses of the Sagrada Familia basilica against a clear blue sky, with green leaves in the upper foreground.

A group of five young adults taking a selfie in the reflection of a circular convex traffic mirror on a winding road with buildings and green hills in the background under a blue sky.

At the end of my program, I finally realized how fast it all went by. That being said, I think that it is important to live in the moment while abroad and try to experience as much as you can!

I also highly recommend the experience of living with a host family. As I said goodbye to my host family, I felt deeply sad to leave, but it wasn’t until my flight took off that I truly realized I was leaving Valencia for good. Overall, I would do it all over again, and I hope to study abroad once more in the future.

A smiling teenager with dark hair is seen embracing a fluffy, light brown Goldendoodle dog inside a car.