Elizabethtown College Study Abroad Office is excited to announce a new program it is piloting, beginning in Fall 2024, where all 1,800 Etown students will be shipped to Spain! This new program has taken years of planning and research, but the petition signed by all Etown students for the opportunity to go to Spain could not be overlooked by the College. Spain is broken up into 17 regions (similar to how the USA is broken up into 50 states) and is one of the most beautiful destinations one will ever visit, making it the perfect place for this new program.
Study Abroad Advisor, Jamie Ramos II, was eager to explain some of the details behind this new program to get students excited about the prospect of going to Spain.
“Each student will learn how to live under the sun as the majority of Spain is sunny! On average, the temperature in the south of Spain can be 90 degrees, and in the north it can be 70 degrees. Needless to say, we shipped all the students to the south of Spain for a good tan!” Ramos said. “We may not have Truman anymore, but students will learn to love the national animal of Spain, El Toro (The Bull).”
This unfamiliar environment will foster cultural and personal growth and provide the opportunity for the College to pioneer an entire schoolwide study abroad program. Spain’s rich history and unique culture will hopefully grow on every single student.
Paella, Croquetas, Patatas Bravas and Spanish Omelets are some of Spain’s most popular dishes. “Students in Spain will no longer have a meal plan to a cafeteria, but instead will survive off of delicious Spanish tapas (appetizers) for $3 per plate!” Ramos said. Exquisite food is just one extra reason to be excited about this new program.
While good food and beautiful sights will be seen, students will still be academically stimulated by the classes offered. Ramos indicated that, “During their first month in Spain, Etown students will have mandatory dance lessons. Life in Spain cannot be lived without learning rhythm and dance. Three to four times a week, students will learn how to dance Salsa, Bachata, Merengue and Flamenco.”
However, after a hard dance class, students will be exposed to another area of Spanish culture, napping!
“Students will embrace one of the most important cultural traditions of Spain, la siesta (The Nap). A daily nap in Spain is a part of everyone’s daily life. Spain lives the simple life, which involves one nap per day. After classes and lunch, students will learn of the importance of a solid nap in the afternoon,” Ramos says.
First-year Julia Finley expressed her opinion on this new program. “Personally, I would be really excited for the opportunity. Although ,I would stress a bit about how that could affect things I already have planned out, such as my tuition, financial aid and credits.” But even though some students may have reservations, the College will still enforce this new program.
Ramos was even kind enough to find out a timeline for the Fall 2024 semester in Spain. “Lastly, Etown students can be grateful that the boat that dropped them off in Spain has decided to not come back for a full 143 days (about 4 and a half months). Why has the boat decided not to return for 143 days, who knows? This number has nothing to do with Spanish culture, but it is when the boat is deciding to return.”
This new program, led by Ramos , will set the precedent for study abroad programs moving forward. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity being offered to Etown students will integrate global travel and cultural studies into its learning environment. More details will be released at the end of the spring semester on this new program to Spain, so be sure to check back in!
