As a junior, Luisa Ortega made a sporadic choice to do something new before her senior year. Seeking the abroad experience, she looked for a location where she could speak Spanish. She browsed LMU’s listings, and found Universidad Loyola in Sevilla, and without another thought, Ortega went off to Spain for her second semester junior year.
Ortega is now a senior. She studies theater arts and education, and loves music and movies. Her ideal weekend includes going to the beach and hanging with her roommates. In her spare time, she enjoys journaling and writing, and has written three plays, one of which is currently a part of New Works, LMU’s annual festival that showcases one act plays written, directed, and acted by students. Recently, she took some time to talk about her experience in Sevilla a year after she went.
What part of your trip was the most unique to Sevilla?
The biggest highlight for me was getting to travel to Morocco and spending a night in the desert in Merzouga. I’d never done anything like that before and I didn’t know a lot of the people in the group, but I met new friends and made unforgettable memories there. I also got to do a lot of traveling inside of Spain and it’s really hard to pick just one favorite destination. I think the most unique place I was at was San Sebastián in the north of Spain. It is a pretty small city, but it’s famous for its views, ocean, and food. I was there twice, and both times I was completely mesmerized by everything the city has to offer. The second time I was there was with my cousin, who goes to culinary school there and knew all the best spots to grab a bite. I still think about some of the dishes to this day!
Where were you staying in Sevilla? How was the place?
I stayed in a student residence close to the city center called Nido, where the other LMU students were also staying. Despite the commute, it was 100% worth it being close to the center, especially since it’s so walkable. The place was nice and comfortable, and I got to have my own individual small room. I shared the bathroom and kitchen with a suitemate, who also happened to be a local university student, so it was great to get her recommendations on where to go and what to do. It was also great getting to cook for myself, which I came to really enjoy, and I’d often have friends over to cook together in the larger kitchens. Overall, the residence was a great blend of foreign study abroad students and local Spanish students, making it a very fun environment to live in for the semester.
What did you learn from being abroad that you would not have learned on campus?
During my time abroad, I would say I learned how to connect with people and places in a way I never had before. Regardless of whether I was speaking to locals, tourists, or other students studying abroad from different places, there was always something new to discover and something new to share. I got to make friends from different places in the world and create memories with them by traveling, exploring, trying new food, and seeing new places. It was so enriching to explore independently by walking and using public transportation, and by immersing myself in a culture.
Did you fall in love with any aspect of the country’s culture?
Something that really captivated me about Spain is how ingrained sharing and coexisting is in the culture. Even the most traditional foods are meant to be shared, and I loved being able to have even the smallest things be shared experiences. It was generally very easy to talk to new people, even in public, and at school it was clear that the staff and faculty had bonds amongst themselves and with their students.
What about the school did you love?
I really liked that the school was small, and it was easy to get to know everyone who was abroad as well as local students. I also really enjoyed getting to take classes in Spanish, especially acting classes. I’d never gotten the chance to explore performance in my native language at LMU, and it was awesome to get to do it in Spain.
Were there any moments of difficulty, or aspects that were challenging for you?
One particularly difficult aspect was the commute from my residence to the university. It usually took about 50 minutes to 1 hour to get to the campus, and that required a combination of taking the metro and a bus. It was especially tough on mornings where I had early classes, and I had to be careful when building my schedule so I wouldn’t have any terribly long gaps. Looking on the bright side, the commute was a nice way to get to know people when heading home after class, or even running into each other on the way. It challenged me not to be so quick to throw headphones on and be more open to starting a conversation with a familiar face.
What places did you end up frequenting over the trip?
One of my favorite places ended up being Parque Maria Luisa, a very big park near the city center and super close to where I was staying. It became the perfect place for picnics with friends, evening jogs, reading, or just for anytime I needed to change up the scenery and get some fresh air. I also grew very fond of some of the restaurants nearby like Casa Manolo, Casa Pepe Hillo, and Alimentari. Trying new restaurants was a highlight of the trip, and I made sure to take friends and family who visited to my favorites.
Do you have any advice for any potential students looking to go on this trip?
See and do as much as you can! It is easy and affordable to move around Spain and even Portugal by train or bus, so I highly recommend taking advantage of that. The south of Spain has so many hidden gems and is also very close to the coast, so go sightseeing as often as possible. Definitely ask locals for recommendations if you want to get to know the city better or want a unique getaway. Keep an open mind, meet new friends, and explore as much as possible!