SiS Newsletter - January 2012 - SIS S. A.: Caitlin Cundiff

Caitlin Cundiff

Hola,

My name is Caitlin Cundiff and I am the Study in Spain Student Ambassador at Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, GA.

Last summer I made the best decision of my college career to anxiously hop on a plane to live and study in Cádiz, Spain. My program was focused on the healthcare industry in Spain, and while I learned much about healthcare, I learned more about the culture, the language, and myself.

During the day, I visited hospitals, pharmacies, womens clinics, and even some alternative medical clinics to better understand healthcare in Spain. At night, my scene changed from doctors in white coats to women and men of all ages in very colorful flamenco dresses and suits. My host mom was a flamenco dancer and her grandaughter, age 4, was learning flamenco, so we would travel all over Andalucia to eat and practice with their family and friends at local flamenco bars. As I met doctors and dancers not only did my spanish improve, but also my understanding and newfound love for Spainsh culture.

Out of my four years of college, studying abroad in Spain was one of the most motivating, exciting, and meaningful learning experience I have had. You can learn a lot in a classroom and in academia, but not until you step into the lives of another culture will you really understand what your readings and textbooks say and so much more beyond that! In Cádiz, I became part of my Andalucian family and culture. When I left Spain I didnt just leave with an enriched education, but also another place to call home.