Haley Tibbs

Overall Experience

My study abroad program in Valencia, Spain, was an experience I will never forget. The way of living in Spain was so relaxing yet fun. There were always various events throughout the day and evening, so there was always something to do. Taking classes to support my Spanish minor while in Spain helped me feel more confident in my Spanish speaking and listening abilities. Although the culture was very different than back home in Iowa, and took me a while to adjust to, I am beyond grateful that I was able to have this experience.

Learning experience

The most valuable learning experience I encountered was living with my host mom. Although I had been studying Spanish for around five years and typically did well in my classes, she had no idea what I was saying, and I had no idea what she was saying. She and I would constantly laugh at each other because we were so confused, but we eventually started understanding each other around the last week. This taught me how important it is to use Spanish outside of the classroom because we cannot learn everything we need to know from a textbook and it taught me the value of staying persistent and not giving up.

Memorable experience

I enjoyed visiting different places on the weekend, but my favorite was Mallorca. Mallorca is a small island just off of Spain, and a decent group of us decided to go. On the first evening, we went on a boat ride that provided some amazing food and music. I had never seen such blue water in my life! When we were heading back to the dock, we saw Mark Zuckerberg on his yacht, which was absolutely insane. On the last day, we took a train ride to the opposite side of the island and saw beautiful mountains and different villages.

What did you not expect?

Something that surprised me was how conscientious Spain is about their energy and resource usage. There were several different types of recycling bins that I was not used to seeing, the AC was rarely used, and many people walked rather than traveling by car. This made me realize that I use more natural recourses than necessary and will try to do better in the future.

What advice would you give?

My advice for students who want to study abroad is to try everything. You are in a new country with new people for only a short amount of time. Although I was only in Spain for six weeks, I was able to explore much of Valencia and the surrounding areas. Also, remember that you do not have to spend a lot of money to enjoy your time abroad as there are plenty of free and cheap opportunities.

How has this experience impacted your life?

I have definitely become more responsible and independent, as I have had to face a lot of new experiences. Having to navigate through different cities and taking various forms of transportation than I am used to was not easy, to say the least, especially because most signs and instructions were in Spanish. Because of this, I feel more prepared for my upcoming Spanish courses at Iowa State and hope it will be able to help me throughout my future career. Along with this, I have also put an even bigger emphasis on my health because of this trip. I walked at least 8 miles every day in Spain, and I have never felt so amazing in my life. When I returned home to work and normalcy, I realized how much I missed just being outside and constantly being active. This helped me realize just how good it is for our bodies to be outside and moving, as it can benefit not only our bodies physically but mentally as well.

How did you learn about this experience?

Studying abroad has always been a goal of mine, as I have never been outside of the United States. However, I knew I was not interested in being gone for an entire semester since I would be without my family and friends for a long time. My academic advisor pointed out the opportunity to go to Valencia, which is only a 6-week study abroad program, and I would be able to earn credits. My decision to study in Valencia was supported by various professors and students who have previously gone on this trip.

International Connections