Deciding to study abroad was an easy decision for me, as it has always been a dream of mine. I knew studying abroad was a unique opportunity and that I needed to take advantage of it while I could. For me, the hardest part was deciding where to go. I am sure many other people go through similar situations where they have a difficult time deciding where to go. I am here to tell you that it is not abnormal to feel indecisive, because, yes, choosing where you want to study for three to five months is an important decision. Nonetheless, doing your homework on locations you would like to study in is the best thing you can do. Look up what universities and programs abroad have to offer, because at the end of the day, what is most important is the program. You must ask yourself, “What does this university/program have to offer me?” The country or city you study in is not quite as determental as the program.

In my own experiences of choosing my study abroad destination, I was so focused on location at first. Being a Hispanic studies major, I had twenty-one Spanish-speaking countries to choose from, which did not make things very easier. I knew that I have always deeply admired Latin American cultures and people. In the same breath, I knew I wanted an opportunity to intern or teach abroad in a local school to gain experience for my future teaching career. As I began to look into the programs offered in South and Central America, I came to find that the programs did not seem to fit my needs. None of the universities that I found offered teaching opportunities through their programs, which was quite a disappointment. Now, I am sure these universities and programs could have worked for me, but I did not feel comfortable abandoning my desire to teach abroad. With South and Latin America looking less than promising, I shifted my attention to the mother (quite literally) of Spanish-speaking countries: Spain.

If I am being honest, at first I was not very excited about studying in Spain. In my eyes, “everybody” studies in Spain. How stupid, right? Well, Spain has a lot to offer to say the least. There were far more programs and cities to study in in Spain, so narrowing down my options in Spain were almost as tiring as narrowing down South and Central America. Each program in the different cities seemed to be pretty similar, each offering similar classes and excursions. But, when I happened upon Salamanca and read into its program’s details, I found what I had been looking for: a teaching internship! Hallelujah! With that, I was sold.

The teaching opportunity really was the selling point for me, and now being here, I am so happy with my decision. As of right now, I have not started the internship yet, nor do I know much information about it. So far, I know that I will be a teaching assistant in one of the Universidad de Salamanca’s English courses. Amazing, right? When I learn more and start the internship, I will surely update you all with how it is going. For now though, I feel grateful for the opportunity to be here and to be following my dreams.

Looking back, it does not seem so dramatic now, but at the time I was very stressed out about choosing where to go. But, please do not be like me. As cliche as it sounds, things will fall into place. Do not stress too much, especially about where you want to go. Choose the program that is right for you, do your homework about each place you are interested in, and use the resources you have at your home university, please. It will make all the difference. I promise!