By Sydney Goldstein, Contributing Writer
This article originally appeared on page 17 of the Sept. 2026 edition of The Gettysburgian magazine
Hi, I am Sydney, and I am currently studying abroad in Seville, Spain. I am studying Health Science through CIEE’s Health Science and Psychology Program. Through CIEE, we have the amazing opportunity to live with a host family, which has been one of the most meaningful parts of my experience abroad. Living with a host family allows you to immerse ourselves in Spanish culture completely. At first adjusting to a new culture, being away from home, and learning how to navigate a new city can be very overwhelming the first few weeks abroad. However, my host family has provided an incredible support system that has made the transition much easier. From making us home cooked meals to helping us navigate Seville they have made such a foreign city feel like home.
In addition to the opportunity to stay with a host family, another incredible part of studying abroad has been being able to travel so freely. Before coming to Seville, I had never traveled outside of the United States, so being able to visit so many new places in such a short amount of time has been completely new to me. So far abroad, I have been exploring more of Spain by taking trips to Cádiz and Ibiza.
Cádiz is considered one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Western Europe. Exploring this city opened my eyes to how much a small city could have so much history in Spain. In addition to the important history, Cádiz is surrounded by the ocean and filled with beautiful beaches and detailed buildings with such a relaxing atmosphere. Compared with the busy streets of Seville, Cádiz had a much calmer feeling that made it the perfect place to spend a weekend exploring.
Another place we have visited so far is Ibiza. Exploring this island offered another completely different experience in comparison to Cádiz. Ibiza is well known for its exciting nightlife and high energy, with many discotecas that invite popular artists to play at their nightclubs. In addition to their night life they also have beautiful clear water beaches that’s so calming to lay out after a long week of school.
Traveling to both Cádiz and Ibiza has shown me how diverse Spain can be, with each destination having its own energy and atmosphere. Being able to take these weekends to explore these different places in Spain has been another one of my favorite parts of study abroad and I can’t wait to see how much more there is to see. Not just in Spain but Europe as a whole!
(Photo provided by Sydney Goldstein)
