Hanry Santamaria

Overall Experience

My overall experience in Spain was magical. The culture, the food, architecture, and etc. were all amazing. I could not believe how alive the city felt when I was in Valencia. I was able to make new friends and make beautiful memories that I will be able to tell for the rest of my life. Everyday I think about Spain and the people who I met there. My time in Spain consisted of exploring the city, going to class, going to my internship and spending time with my friends and host mom. The experience felt so relaxed and stress free. I loved the experience and I recommend everyone to look in studying abroad in another country.

Learning experience

The most valuable experience I encountered in Spain was meeting the locals of Spain. I grabbed coffee with them and was able to learn so much about Spain and what they think about the United States. These connection with people that I still communicate with till this day is beautiful. I have created bonds with people across the world and it means so much to me.

Memorable experience

Spending time with my friends on the beach was very memorable. It was amazing having familiar faces and having a lot of fun with them. The day that was most memorable was the holiday of San Juan. We all had a lot of fun on the beach that night. I will also say that traveleing to Italy and France was so memorable. It was beautiful being able to travel so easily between the countries.

What did you not expect?

Working at the nursing home allowed me to view a side of the healthcare field that I never seen before. This was my first time being in a nursing home so it was eye opening to experience this. The way that the residents would talk to me and one another was also very comforting. It felt like a community and as someone who will be working in the medical/healthcare field, I want to create an environment in which my patients feel safe. Having a community and space that feels like home and comforting is always the goal to create trust within one another.

What advice would you give?

I want to tell students who have thoughts on studying abroad to do it. The experience of going to a new country is worth the price and will allow you to grow as a person. You will be able to make so many new connections with people and learn so much about the world around you.

How has this experience impacted your life?

This experience allowed me to be able to develop a deeper connection with myself. I was able to trust my instincts more and become more confident. I needed to step out of my comfort zone during this trip which was scary at first but it allowed me to make the best experiences in my life. As for my educational progression, I was able to learn so much about the marine life in Valencia, Spain. We hiked, explored the waters, and looked at the plants of this beautiful country. I had an internship in Spain and was able to learn so much about the healthcare system in Spain and how it operates. It was eye opening the differences and similarities that Spain and the United States have. I will use this knowledge to give the best care I can give to my patients.

How did you learn about this experience?

I learned about this opportunity through a friend who went on this trip.

International Connections