A Week in Spain with Justin Lee

Our Admissions Officer for Spanish Semester Programs Shares His Experiences in Granada and Salamanca

Justin Lee, our Admissions Officer for semester programs in Argentina, Australia, China, Ireland, Russia, and Spain, has traveled far and wide over the last several years. He studied abroad in London during his junior year of college, and he has traveled through most of Western Europe, including France, Germany, Switzerland, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, the Netherlands, Luxemburg, and Austria. In addition, he has lived in the Caribbean and traveled to Peru, Canada and Mexico. Recently, he visited Granada and Salamanca and met with the Resident Directors and students on the AIFS programs in Spain. Reflecting on his experience, Justin shares his memories of his visit and tips for students interested in studying abroad in Granada and Salamanca.

The view of the Albaicin district from the Alhambra in Granada

First things first: what was your favorite meal in Spain?
JL: The Spanish tortilla. It is very different from a Mexican tortilla. In Spain a tortilla is actually a potato omelet; there can be variations with ham or local seasonal vegetables, like asparagus. It has lots of herbs and spices – very tasty. In general, students should not expect to find Mexican food in Spain. Spanish food is much more of a Mediterranean diet, big on olive oil as well as Iberian ham.

Most of our students on the Spanish programs live in Spanish homes with Senoras and host families. What were the homestays and host families like?
JL: Absolutely wonderful! The apartments where our host families live are very modest, maybe not as big as we are used to, but very clean, neat, comfortable, and modern.The Senoras I met treat their students like family; the Senoras are very motherly. Students are certainly well taken care of.

What was it like to take public transportation around Spain?
JL: I took the train from Madrid to Salamanca, which was quite comfortable and easy to arrange. Trains are a bit less convenient than buses throughout Spain because of schedules, but certainly are manageable. Cost-wise, buses are a bit cheaper.

The Plaza Mayor in Salamanca

What was your favorite experience in each city you visited?
JL: I first arrived in Salamanca on a Sunday evening; Gaye (the Resident Director) mentioned that everyone takes a Sunday evening stroll. Sure enough, everyone, from kids to grandparents, was out socializing and taking leisurely walks along the streets and plazas. It was quite wonderful to see, and I promptly joined in.

In Granada I enjoyed just wandering through the narrow streets, exploring the Moroccan area, and sampling the different tapas bars. Some areas of Granada have narrow hidden streets with interesting shops, some with Moroccan merchandise tucked away. Of course, no trip to Granada would be complete without sampling the tapas, which are quite different from what American tapas bars serve, but still quite good and fun. Most restaurants will provide you with a small complimentary plate of tapas with your drinks – slices of ham, cheese, pickles, olives, and other tasty things.

Was there anything you wish you had been able to do or see, but didn’t have the chance?
JL: I really wanted to spend some time in Seville, as well as attend a bull fight. I just couldn’t fit Seville into my schedule, and I was there at the wrong time of year for a bull fight. Next time!

As an Admissions Officer, do you have any advice for students thinking about studying abroad?
JL: I would tell students who are thinking of studying abroad at some point during their college career to make sure that their passports are valid for at least 6 months from their return date. If they don’t have the passport with them at school, they should call their parents and ask them to check the dates. If students don’t have a passport at all, they should apply for one now.

For students who are thinking specifically about going to Spain for a semester, they should know that applying for a Spanish student visa can take two months or longer. Waiting too long to apply for/renew a passport will add a lot of unnecessary stress in the months leading up to departure.

Learn more about AIFS programs in Spain: http://www.aifsabroad.com/spain/