For students like Sarah Buhr, studying abroad is more than just studying in a different country. It can mean learning a different culture, learning the metro system and learning about oneself.
Buhr, a senior, went to Spain the summer of 2006 with ETSU’s study abroad program. She came back with more than just nine credit hours. “I absolutely loved going to Spain because it was so much fun.” said Buhr.
She had a teacher her first year in college that showed her pictures of Spain and told her that she would go someday. Senora Rich had inspired Buhr to go to Spain with the study abroad program. “She always told me that she knew I would go see those places one day, and when I knew I was going to Spain I called her and she was so excited for me,” Buhr said.
The program was headed up by Dr. Sandra Palmer and involves five weeks in Spain with class work, homework and trips throughout the country. The group that Buhr was with included seven students. They went on many trips including visits to Segovia, Granada and Avila. They saw historic places like the Roman aqueduct, the Alhambra and even watched a bullfight. Visiting these sites first- hand taught the students a lot about Spain’s history. “Because we took the train, we also got to see a lot of the beautiful countryside,” Buhr said.
“It gets tiring and there is a lot of work but it’s completely worth it,” she said.
Class would begin around 8 a.m. and there was a break around noon. Then they would visit a museum or go on a trip over the weekend. Buhr took her homework to the park because the day would be completely free afternoon if she was not on a trip.
In the evenings she would enjoy the nightlife, which was her favorite part about Spain. “I met so many people there, and I had so much fun,” she said. “I would go again if I could.”
The students lived in apartments with roommates for the five weeks that they were in Spain. Some of the other students living there were from all over the world. Buhr met people from Brazil, Holland and many other countries. Then they would walk or take the metro to class. “You really get to feel what it is like to live in Spain because you are actually a resident,” she said.
“I can really rock the metro now, I took it everywhere,” said Buhr.
Traveling and learning how to live in a different country gave Buhr confidence. “You learn so much about yourself when you travel,” she said, “you learn about yourself as a person and what you are capable of.

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