Maria Keeney's Semester in Spain

 Maria Keeney's Semester in Salamanca, Spain

Maria Keeney

SUNY Cortland Junior

Adolescent Education Spanish Major and TESOL Minor

From Rome, New York

SUNY Cortland junior Maria Keeney tells us about her semester so far in Salamanca, Spain. In a city filled with amazing food and people, Maria has been able to make incredible memories and immerse herself in the culture. Maria shares her experience in Spain as well her experience traveling to places such as Paris. 

Why did you choose to study abroad in Salamanca, Spain?

I love this location because it is known for having a very "pure" form of Spanish, which is much easier for people to learn. In addition, it is a smaller city compared to cities like Madrid or Barcelona. It is much safer for visitors, but Salamanca still has a great nightlife and community. 

Describe your average day in Salamanca. 

My average weekday starts around 7am, and we get ready for school and have breakfast. Most days, we have class from 9am to either 12pm or 2pm. After class, we head home for Comida. If there is time between classes, we usually stop at a café to get a coffee and something small to eat, either a pastry or tortilla with potatoes and eggs. 

During Comida, we spend time catching up with our host mom, who loves to make jokes, and we usually watch the Spanish version of Wheel of Fortune because she says it will help us learn new words. After relaxing for a few hours or doing homework, we usually head out into the town, especially near la Plaza Mayor, to have tapas, which is usually just a small snack with drinks or coffee but is also meant to be a social outing. 

Around 9, we head back home for dinner, which we usually eat around 9:30 and watch the late-night TV shows. When we finish dinner around 10:30, we usually unwind or head to bed, or call our family and friends because of the time difference. Most nights, I am in bed, ready to sleep around 12:30.

On weekends, we sleep in much later, and it is much more relaxed, but we have been using most of the weekends to travel to different cities and countries.

What has been the best part about studying abroad?

The best part about studying abroad is seeing how passionate some people are about life. Observing the love of food, music, and each other has really given me a new perspective on life. Family and friends are extremely important here as well as holiday celebrations. It seems like they really enjoy living life which is refreshing. 

Another thing that I love is being able to travel around Spain and other parts of Europe with such ease. It is so amazing to see so many beautiful places during my time here. 

What's your favorite memory that you've made so far?

My two favorite memories so far are seeing El Museo del Prado and seeing the Eiffel tower light up at midnight on my birthday. Seeing the paintings in the Prado was so surreal because I have studied so many of the paintings in class. Seeing them in front of me was so amazing because I wasn't sure if I would be able to have a semester abroad with COVID. We took a weekend trip to Paris for my birthday, and I could not have imagined a better way to spend my birthday than seeing the tower sparkling with my friends. It was such an amazing moment because most people only dream of seeing the Eiffel tower in person.

The biggest difference between studying at Salamanca versus studying at Cortland?

In school in Salamanca, the professors insist that we call them by their first names. Class is very laid back here, and the classes are less structured than at Cortland. The weather is obviously very different here too. It is much more like a city than Cortland, and we all live in apartments. There are so many options to eat and shop. You could probably go to a different café every day for the next few months.