Havana, Cuba
A Semester in Cuba – Through the Eyes of an Alum
If you’ve been wondering what it’s like to study abroad in Havana, Cuba, you have come to the right spot. I sat down with Maggie
Photo credit: Ivana Martinez
Spanish Studies Abroad appreciates the feedback we have received from students who have remained onsite during their study abroad experiences this spring. We thank them for sharing these honest words of encouragement and positivity for others during this difficult period. We also want to commend our dedicated host families, onsite staff, faculty and partners who have helped ensure the safety and wellbeing of our students who remain abroad.
In this series “Student Stories: Studying Abroad During COVID-19,” we’ll be sharing Q&As from students and how the quarantine affected their study abroad experience. If you studied abroad this spring with SSA and would like to share your experience, please email us at [email protected].
In the neighborhood of Triana, Sevilla with my host-mom.
Photo credit: Ivana Martinez
Most of my days are spent following my direct enrollment classes at the University of Sevilla online and then doing the readings and requisite studying that goes along with those classes. Now with the beginning of the first phase of de-escalation (here it’s called phase zero) I’ve been going out to take a walk around the river every morning as a great way to get some sunlight and fresh air before online classes begin since my first class is at 9am.
Lunch-time is “Merlosdrama” time. My host-mom has me hooked on all things periodismo de corazón and its officially my media-guilty pleasure. After lunch I continue my readings in preparation for final exams in June.
In the evenings I do an online workout and then during dinner my host-mom and I continue to obsess over Netflix’s La Casa de Papel. Whenever my intercambio and I can, we like to continue practicing our Spanish/English so we talk over video chat.
Photo credit: Ivana Martinez
Planning in the middle of a pandemic and still maintaining some sense of control over my time and scheduling has been challenging. Additionally, I’m currently trying to find new ways to improve my concentration.
Being online and sitting all day isn’t natural so it’s been a challenge figuring out how to mitigate those negative effects of sitting and staring at a screen for hours but then getting up and feeling like I haven’t actually processed or understood what I’ve been reading or working on.
Photo credit: Ivana Martinez
Being able to still study in Spain and continuing my linguistic immersion even from confinement. I love that for the first time in my life I can open a window and hear Spanish being spoken outside beyond my own family home.
I can go up to the rooftop terrace and hear neighbors speaking in Spanish. When I turn on the TV, regardless of the channel everything is still Spanish. Still being in the same time-zone as my intercambio has also been a plus.
Photo credit: Ivana Martinez
I recently learned how to make a tortilla de patata!
Photo credit: Ivana Martinez
Be kind to yourself. We are all being asked to continue as normally as possible in an atypical situation. The best we can do is try but not every day will be a productive one and that’s ok. Also know that social distancing need not be equated with emotional distancing. Take this time to experiment with different ways to express your care for family and friends given the unique circumstances we’re all in.
Photo credit: Ivana Martinez
If you’ve been wondering what it’s like to study abroad in Havana, Cuba, you have come to the right spot. I sat down with Maggie
You recently decided to study abroad, but now you are stuck deciding between studying for a short-term, semester, or academic year program. There are pros
The mission of SSA is to promote our students’ in-depth understanding of Spanish-speaking countries through specifically designed and academically rigorous university-level and cultural travel programs.
Trying to learn more about Study Abroad?
We’re sending you our A-Z study abroad guide, including:
