Name: Timmy Wilson
Class Year: 2021
Hometown: Mamaroneck, NY
Global Study Semester: Fall 2019
Program: IES Salamanca, Advanced Spanish Immersion
Major/Minor: Political Science and Sociology Double Major, Spanish Minor
Activities on Campus: Campus Activities Board, Admissions Tour Guide and Day Host, Gettysburg Social Science Review
My Story from Global Study: My favorite moments from my abroad experience were the days where I had nothing to do. The days where I was able to explore Salamanca with my friends, sit at coffee shops, practice my Spanish, and learn more about where I was living from my host family were my favorite days. While Salamanca is a considered a city it is a very small city and completely walkable which made it so much fun to explore. There was always something new to explore and was very accessible to students since it is a university town. My host family would always give me different suggestions on places to visit whether that be the Casa Lis (an art museum in Salamanca), a picnic by the Puente Romano (usually during sunset on the other side of the river) or climbing to the top of the Cathedral and looking out at the city there was always something new to do. My experience was definitely shaped by the people I had met and my host family. My program was only 34 total students so we all knew each other and got to experience life in Spain together.
My Advice for Future Students: My advice to future students is to step into your new experience and don’t look back. This experience will be one that will be very hard to replicate in the future. Every moment abroad is a moment to learn and grow. Go out and explore wherever you are studying. It is very exciting to go travel to other countries but give yourself time to explore the place you are in. Take the opportunities to go to the coffee shop and talk to students, to sit for hours talking to your host family even though you have that paper to write. Every moment abroad is going to make your experience one to remember so take those opportunities to do things you never thought you wanted to do.