Home » Blog
Blog
Pack for Your Semester in Spain : Suggestions by Reba Brownell (Fall 2024)
Hello! I’m Reba Brownell. I’m currently on week twelve of my semester abroad experience in Sevilla. I do not feel ready to leave yet, so I am so thankful that...
Read MoreAttending the Misa del Peregrino by Clara Mozingo (Fall 2024)
When I signed up to write a blog post on my experience with a local church, I assumed I would share what it was like to go to Sunday service...
Read MoreHoly Toledo! by Lauren Gadbois (Spring 2024)
It seemed as though 46 young Americans on a charter-bus five hours to Toledo, Spain, was a bad idea. No pasa nada. Right? However, this just so happened to be...
Read MoreAcclimating to Life in Sevilla By MacRae Richardson (Spring 2024)
Sevilla is a great homebase for travel. You can spend your weekends exploring different cities in Spain (I recommend Granada) or even touring other countries (it’s really easy to visit...
Read MoreMay Your Travels Be Light and Your Journeys Smooth By Bailie Salcido (Spring 2014)
I studied abroad with Semester in Spain during the spring of 2014. Five years later, I had the incredible privilege of returning to Sevilla to serve as the Student Ministries...
Read MoreTraveling in Europe on a Budget by Corrinne Wayman (Spring 2023)
Spain is extremely accessible to Europe and a very affordable country to travel in. So, while living abroad, it’s important to take advantage of this and travel! There are endless...
Read MoreIglesias en Sevilla
¿Quieres involucrarte en una iglesia evangélica/protestante en Sevilla? Te ofrecemos una lista de opciones populares. Oasis International Church Dirección: Numero 1, Av. de Mairena, 13, 41920 San Juan de...
Read MoreFinding my “Fit” in Sevilla by Katie Wiggins-Gawlik (Fall 2009)
There is a song that many students become familiar with while studying with Semester in Spain: “Sevilla tiene un color especial” by Los Del Rio. Not only does the Student...
Read MoreTop 5 Gelato Spots in Sevilla by Emma-Kate Moore (Fall 2023, Taylor University)
When it comes to exploring the vibrant city of Seville, you cannot miss out on the rich and delightful experience of savoring authentic Spanish gelato. In Spain, gelato, known as...
Read MoreRecommended Tapas Places – By Ana Bello (SIS Housing Coordinator)
Wondering where to eat when you’re in Spain? See our read Sevillian Housing Coordinator’s suggestion! SUGERENCIAS: BARES PARA TAPEAR EN SEVILLA ZONA CENTRO El Rinconcillo Calle Gerona, 40 Espinacas (spinach with...
Read MoreInternational Living Post-SIS
My name is Rachel Larson (Miller when I was a student with SIS) and I am now pursuing international opportunities! I studied with SIS in the summer of 2019 (I...
Read MorePalabras de España by Monica Zevenbergen
Tapas. Flamenco. Playa. Siesta. These are just a few of the many words that were on my mind as I prepared for my semester abroad in Spain. In the fall...
Read MoreWhat Makes Excursion Days Special? By Georgia Lodewyk (SIS Spring 2023, Dordt University)
Excursion days would start very early in the morning. Too early, almost, but it was always worth it. I remember one excursion day in March, to Zahara de la Sierra...
Read MoreDietary Restrictions in Spain (Part 2) – Olivia Morris (SIS Staff)
The following recommendations are based on a gluten and dairy free diet. Click here to read Part 1. Restaurantes (Traditional Spanish cuisine): Victoria 8 (C. Victoria, 8, 41010 Sevilla, Spain)...
Read MoreDietary Restrictions in Spain (Part 1) – Olivia Morris (SIS Staff)
As an individual who is allergic to gluten and dairy, as well as someone who has had numerous bad food experiences internationally, the thought of being able to safely...
Read MoreInvesting in Sevilla by Hannah McAdams (Spring 2022 Alumna from John Brown University)
I am not exaggerating when I say that going to Sevilla, Spain in Spring 2022 was the best experience of my life. I know it sounds super dramatic but let...
Read MoreFinding my “Fit” in Sevilla by Katie Wiggins-Gawlik (Fall 2009)
There is a song that many students become familiar with while studying with Semester in Spain: “Sevilla tiene un color especial” by Los Del Rio. Not only does the Student...
Read MoreTop 5 Gelato Spots in Sevilla by Emma-Kate Moore (Fall 2023, Taylor University)
When it comes to exploring the vibrant city of Seville, you cannot miss out on the rich and delightful experience of savoring authentic Spanish gelato. In Spain, gelato, known as...
Read MoreBailando bajo las Setas by Kirsten Olson
What was your most rewarding experience/moment in Spain? One of the most rewarding and honestly influential moments from my time in Sevilla is when we gathered as a school to...
Read More¿Cómo se dice, um, um…err, uh…?
¡Hola a todos! So I’m here to share a few things about my first week here in Sevilla, Spain. Warning, if you see these three dots, “. . .” it’s...
Read MoreEl Roi, ‘The God Who Sees Me’
When people ask me, “how’s Spain?!?”, I find myself not really knowing what to say. You know those plastic ball pits you find in kiddie jungle gyms/human hamster cages? That...
Read MoreCommunity Learning and Fellowship: How I Engaged in Another Culture Abroad
Hi! My name is Brooke Brodeur and I’m a junior from Taylor University studying Spanish education, TESOL, and intercultural studies and missions. I’ve dreamt of coming to Spain since I...
Read MoreSevilla: Ciudad Llena de Creatividad
As I reflect on my dearest memories in Sevilla, Spain so far – the ones that make my heart smile – I have come to realize the mark of a...
Read MoreHair Salons for Black Students in Sevilla
Elizabeth from SIS writing here today. If we’ve never had the chance to meet, I’m SIS’s Coordinator of Recruitment, Marketing & College Relations or, rather, the person you talk to...
Read MoreEl Estilo de Vida en Sevilla!
The semester has only just begun but I am already enchanted by the lifestyle that I’ve experienced so far in Sevilla, so I wanted to share some of my favorite...
Read MoreSink or Swim?
Deluge is one of my favorite words in the English language. “A severe flood; a heavy fall of rain; a great quantity of something arriving at the same time; to...
Read MoreIt’s the Little Things that Make a Big Difference
Before I left to study abroad, my study abroad program warned me about the big differences from America culture I was going to find here in Spain: things like food,...
Read MoreEl Camino de Santiago
To try and pin down what my most rewarding experience has been here in Spain would be difficult especially after only having passed the halfway point. Living in Sevilla and...
Read MoreI Deserve a Place Where my Shell can be Broken
“Don’t be surprised or stare if you see gay couples walking around.” One of the warnings the program sees necessary to tell students coming from various private Christian colleges across...
Read MoreTraveling Vertically
I can never get enough of traveling. I’ve visited over thirty U.S. states and seven foreign countries, doing everything from missions work to singing in a choir to simple tourism....
Read MoreFútbol Español Durante la Pandemia
As we all know, everything has taken a hit during this pandemic. Sports were no exception. Hang out with Salva on June 5th at 12pm CST to learn how the...
Read MoreMúsica Española Durante la Pandemia
Spanish artists have come together during the pandemic to collaborate on musical pieces to support and encourage one another. Join us Saturday, May 1st, at 12:00pm CST to learn from...
Read MoreEvery Little Second
When I look back on my time in Spain, there are so many memories to share: exploring Sevilla through five days of rain, spending a weekend in Portugal, doing homework...
Read MoreWatching Water Boil
Being abroad as the coronavirus started to become more serious felt like watching water boil; it happened slowly and then all at once. I remember hearing that a new...
Read MoreSemana Santa, an Alumni’s Reflection
As we approach the end of Lent and prepare for Easter during Holy Week, I think it is important for us to reflect on our faith especially during this challenging...
Read MoreThe Bittersweet End
By Grace Schmidt, Dordt University Student Being sent home from our grand adventure abroad was incredibly sad news. “Sad” is such a simple word, but it seemed to be the...
Read MoreYou are the BEST
If you’ve ever taken Flamenco lessons with Sylvia, you’ve heard her proclaim, “You are the BEST!” It’s an encouraging reminder that you are incredible whether you fail to curve your...
Read MoreChecking off my Bucket List with SIS
I can finally say I’ve been to a beach after a 4-day trip to Lagos, Portugal! By the way, hello everyone! I’m Nay Mi Chele-Rhengboi and I’m studying public relations...
Read MoreLet’s Talk Homesickness
The hardest part of being abroad is also the greatest blessing. It can be summed up in a single word: people. Okay, I know that’s vague. Don’t worry – I’ve...
Read MoreSpain Has My Heart
FIVE WEEKS OF CLASSES IN THE BOOKS! Somehow, I have managed to squeeze in trips to Gibraltar, Córdoba, Toledo, Madrid, and Cádiz…wow. So is this life as an SIS student?...
Read More4pm Sevilla-Bound Bus, Seat 37.
Hey y’all! My name is Sarah Balkcom and I am from Memphis, TN. I study Biology, Spanish and Chemistry at Asbury University. For me, these past 3 weeks have been...
Read MoreReflections
Greetings! My name is Averee Gumm and this week I have been pondering the many things I have learned on this journey, and I want to provide a bit of...
Read MoreExtending the Family
One day at the beginning of the semester I was at Encuentro (a small program after school on Wednesdays where the students of my program get together to worship) when...
Read MoreComing Home
A blog post about fall break by Grace Dummitt! It’s really hard to believe that we are more than halfway through the semester. As I get older, time seems to...
Read MoreUncomfortably, Comfortable
A common phrase I hear when talking with people from TCCSevilla is how “I am uncomfortable, I was uncomfortable, this is going to be uncomfortable, etc.” even I have said...
Read MoreFall 2019 Newsletter
Check out our Fall 2019 Newsletter that highlights two of our students who have completed internships, two new team members, and one professor who attended CAWL!
Read MoreOn Language and Connection
The world is a lot bigger than we think it is. It’s also quite full of persons. And, yes, I meant to write “persons” instead of “people” because I think...
Read MoreSix Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me About Studying Abroad:
Hello all! I’ve officially been in Spain for 77 days and in those 77 days I’ve learned a thing or two. Here are six things I wish I knew before...
Read MoreOn Spain, Siestas, & Slowing Down
One of the first things an American living in Spain must adjust to is an entirely different concept of time. Meals are later (lunch around 2 or 3 o’clock and...
Read MoreIt Feels Like Home
Since being in Sevilla, I have listened to the “Café con Leche” playlist on Spotify many times; it seems quite fitting considering the amount of café con leche I have...
Read MoreGrowth: Slow, Messy, & Beautiful
I have often been someone who tries to actively seek out opportunities for growth in my life. I also try to be conscious of stagnant seasons in my life where...
Read MoreA Passion for Teaching English Abroad
As I am nearing my last year of college I have been asked recently a few times why I want to teach English abroad in different countries. I had been...
Read MoreThe Final Week of the First Term
These last couple days have been filled with preparing for final exams and finishing projects for my classes, and it has honestly been really nice to slow down and take...
Read MoreWeek One: Two Indispensable Spanish Phrases
When I started planning for Sevilla, the thing I worried about most was getting there. Flying internationally, having a layover in a Spanish airport, keeping track of my checked...
Read MoreSemana Santa Afuera de Sevilla
If you don’t like crowds, then Seville during Semana Santa is not the place for you. People come from all over to witness the extravaganza of the hundreds of people...
Read MoreWonder Anew
At the beginning of the semester I was sitting on the rooftop of TCC school here in Seville, Spain wondering what God had in store for me. The morning air...
Read MoreSpain and Cultural Diversity
So far during my time here in Spain, I have learned a lot about the value of cultural diversity. The instant change of attitude about schedules, socializing, and style were...
Read MoreFlipping the Switch
You would think that writing a blog post in my native language would be relatively simple, right? Or that with just over two months of my summer...
Read MoreMy Travels While Abroad
Traveling around and outside of Spain has been a dream. In my first few weeks, I have had the privilege of visiting the cities of Ronda and Santiponce in Spain...
Read More¿vale? venga. ¡vamos!
Vale. Venga. Vamos. My roommate and I half-kidded throughout the semester that all you need to know in Spanish are these 3 words. But we were also kind of serious...
Read MoreProf Carmen Demonstrating Sevillanas
Check out this clip of Professor Carmen Suarez dancing the Sevillanas during a class break
Read MoreKayaking in Seville
Like most Acento students, I lived in the neighborhood of Triana during my semester in Seville. Every day I walked over the Rio Guadalquivir on my way to school and...
Read MoreThe World in Spain
It has been a week and a half since I returned home from my adventure across the ocean. I will say I was glad to come home, and even more...
Read MoreWhat a Day!
In this post, you’ll learn a little Spanish. See the bottom for help with the italicized words. What a blessing today was. Usually I won’t post every day, but today...
Read MoreConvenience and Comfort
A couple days ago I went to Encuentro, which is the youth group like meeting that my study abroad program does each week. We met outside in the Parque de...
Read MoreLa Tercera Semana
Zooming in on my past week, I was able to do, see and try many new things. I think one of my favorite things that will happen each week is...
Read MoreSeville – Like a Dream
Last spring break I went to Disney world with my best friend. I had never been there before and didn’t know what to expect and Kelsie was so excited to...
Read MoreDon’t Let the Extraordinary Become Ordinary
Extraordinary: exceptional in character, amount, extent, degree, etc.; noteworthy; remarkable This past weekend a few friends and I decided to pack a picnic lunch and head to some Roman ruins outside...
Read MoreAccion Solidaria
Another awesome thing that I’m excited about here is my Accion Solidaria (community service). I’m working with a program called Solidarios: Personas Sin Hogar (People without homes). I get to...
Read MoreWait… It’s Already Been a Month?
A recent blog entry from a beginner student on Semester in Spain who is studying Theology at Trinity Christian College. So classes started, and for the first few weeks we...
Read MoreThese Are a Few of my Favorite Things
1. El Helado We all learned about helado in our freshman year Spanish courses. Helado is ice cream, right? Wrong. Helado is so much more than that. Helado is life....
Read More8 Cultural Adjustments I Wasn’t Expecting So Quickly
Yesterday my host mom sat my roommate and I down and asked us if we realized we had been here for 2 weeks or not and then wanted to know...
Read MoreTired Feet, Happy Heart
I know the title is a bit cheesy but it really captures the essence of my week. (On a side note, please forgive my spelling because my spellcheck is stuck...
Read MoreThe First Few Days
I still have a hard time believing that I am actually here. The last few days have been a bit overwhelming but a lot of fun. The flight from Chicago...
Read MoreLessons Learned
Lesson #1- Take the Plunge The first day that I arrived in Spain, I was dropped off at Gym Galisport, a local fitness center in Triana. About 20 minutes later,...
Read MorePay de manzana
I’ve been thinking. I made a pie today. Apple pie, with caramel crumble topping, and a shortbread crust. Thinking about the one month anniversary of leaving didn’t inspire me to...
Read MoreThere and Back Again
I’m home. I’ve been home since Thursday, May 8th. Words cannot describe how good it feels to be back, and neither can they describe the experience I just returned from....
Read MoreMarch in Andalusia Is Fantastic
It’s 80 degrees and sunny today! I just had another flamenco dancing class – well, technically sevillanas, which is a bit more specific -which was really fun. This past weekend...
Read MoreFrom El Greco to the Gecko
Last weekend, I ventured to Toledo and Madrid. Toledo is small and rambling; just a little, medieval town selling knives, swords and jewelry in every little shop. Gollum marionettes hang...
Read MoreSecond Week
This week we had our first Encuentro which is a night of worship organized by the students in my school. We have two teams in which I am a part...
Read MoreThe First Week
Some things about Sevilla: IT IS BEAUTIFUL. There’s a river (I cross one of the bridges every day to get to school). The buildings are old, ornate, and colorful. There...
Read MoreEl Amor de Comida
photo by fellow student Jordan Wilmes) Una frase que yo he aprendido va “panza llena, corazón contenta.” Creo que esta frase va estar una que voy a repetir mucho porque...
Read MoreSerene Semana
For anyone who has ever missed a night’s sleep, my heart truly goes out to them. I’ve been fortunate enough during my time in Spain to have accomplished many feats...
Read MoreLa Vida Sevillana
It has a nice ring to it, wouldn’t you say? After spending almost three weeks in Sevilla, I thought it might be time to share some of my daily life...
Read MoreLa mejor identidad
Here is a bit of insight on one of the things I’ve been learning most about during this semester abroad….and that is, the idea of “identity.” Before leaving for my...
Read MoreSchool Outings
Every day I am here, I am more impressed with the Trinity/Acento program. Today in my literature class we walked the streets of Sevilla and read a story outside of the...
Read MoreEl Sabor de Sevilla
I Love Rosa I woke up this morning….afternoon…in a hurry because Rosa wanted to go out for lunch! For anyone who knows me at all, you know this is my...
Read MoreIt’s like riding a bike
A few things about Sevici…. Okay so here’s the deal. Sevilla has a fantastic bike system that’s super convenient and really fun…but it also has its challenges. This is for...
Read MoreFirst Impressions
Here I am in Sevilla, and it is more than I could have ever imagined it to be! So much has happened so far, so I’ll start at the beginning.....
Read MoreOnce-in-a-lifetime Experiences
Semester in Spain is definitely one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences. This is a semester where students like me can come and be immersed in a completely different culture. We come...
Read MoreEspaña: From the view of a principiante
I am the kind of person that needs busyness, organization, and preparation to succeed. I am the kind of person who holds down some sort of job, runs for her...
Read MoreFive Buildings and Five Experiences
4835 – The number of miles I would be from my hometown in Michigan while in Seville, Spain, where I would be studying for four months. Zero – The number...
Read MoreA Semester of First Times
The joy that a person feels when they do something for the first time is hard to describe, but it is a joy that I hope everyone experiences at some...
Read MoreTales from Toledo
Toledo. Two days. One city. Many swords. If I could think of one word to describe my experience in Toledo, it would definitely be: unexpected. Don’t get me wrong, I...
Read MoreThe life of a Señora
When I grow up, I wouldn’t mind to have the life of my señora. Every morning she gets up and neatly sets out our breakfast of crackers , peanut butter...
Read MoreRelated Post
Pack for Your Semester in Spain : Suggestions by Reba Brownell (Fall 2024)
Hello! I’m Reba Brownell. I’m currently on week twelve of my semester abroad experience in Sevilla. I do not feel ready to leave yet, so
Attending the Misa del Peregrino by Clara Mozingo (Fall 2024)
When I signed up to write a blog post on my experience with a local church, I assumed I would share what it was like
Holy Toledo! by Lauren Gadbois (Spring 2024)
It seemed as though 46 young Americans on a charter-bus five hours to Toledo, Spain, was a bad idea. No pasa nada. Right? However, this