Meet Josh - SYA Spain FALL 2023
Extracurriculars Abroad: Cooking class and Joven Erasmus club.
Favorite SYA Class: Theater class!
Favorite Food in Spain: No doubt, Spanish food is some of the best in the world. But the CAFÉ! I am normally not a coffee drinker, but you very quickly become one once you arrive in Spain. There’s nothing better than leaving the building at 11 in the morning, running over to El Criollo and ordering a hot café con leche. Paired with a pastry or slice of cake, simply to die for.
School You Attend: Avenues (NYC)
Hometown: New York, NY
Classes at SYA Spain
Q: How has SYA impacted your college application process?
A: Aside from the college search process, SYA has completely altered my view of the application itself. Rather than emphasizing my passion for history or love for playing golf, which I’ll still include, of course, speaking Spanish and living in Spain is now at the forefront of my application. What better way to tell colleges about your love of Spanish than your experience following through by living in your target language for four-to-eight months!
Why Josh Thinks You Should Apply to SYA!
Q: What was one of your favorite host family memories?
A: Throughout the semester I was abroad, my host family graciously took me on several trips. A few were to local small towns to visit family for a fiesta, but the others were more like “vacations” or “adventures”. The first real “adventure” I went on was to Sos del Rey Católico, a small town north of Zaragoza that is also the birthplace of King Ferdinand II of Aragón. What made this trip especially memorable was that halfway through, it started pouring. Expecting the rain, we were equipped with rain jackets and umbrellas. However, it certainly made it fun to jump around puddles and laugh whilst singing and walking in the rain.
How SYA Changed Josh
Q: What did you learn abroad that surprised you?
A: While I certainly learned a lot about Zaragoza, Spain, and living abroad, I didn’t think I would learn so much about what it was like to live outside of America. As someone who is fortunate enough to travel often, I have seen other countries and states outside of the one I live in, but never before was I able to immerse myself so deeply into one culture in one particular place during an extended period of time. When you are studying abroad, the issues and “norms” you might experience change. Rather than waking up every morning to cars honking, construction, or whatever else the wonderful New York city has to offer, I woke up to peace and tranquility. Silence, for once, and every so often, a deep and low fog would cover the morning dew. I learned, the hard way, to walk around the grass in the morning because otherwise my shoes would get wet. I learned that certain buses take longer than others, and sometimes Google Maps isn’t the most accurate when trying to get to a destination. It’s the little things that surprised me, which really made studying abroad all worthwhile. I would go back any day I could.
