“I loved working with students at CEIP Fuentenueva. The students and teachers were very welcoming and kind. The students asked lots of questions about where I was from and my life back home. I reciprocated their curiosity by inquiring about their life in Spain. There were many opportunities for us to learn from each other and for me to practice my Spanish.”
--Yale University, Spring 2024
“Volunteering at Vitalia Home was one of my favorite parts of my study abroad experience in Granada. Vitalia Home is a residence for people with disabilities requiring extra support. I spent a couple hours each week at the residence organizing games and craft activities. It was truly one of the highlights of my week, and I would often stop by when I had free time because it was such a fun environment. My Spanish skills also improved tremendously from being able to talk to locals. I learned a lot about Granada and different perspectives on the area. Some of the people had lived in Granada for over sixty years, so it was really fascinating to hear about how the city has changed and evolved. I would highly recommend volunteering to anyone who is interested. It is a great way to meet new people, learn Spanish, and integrate into the local community."
--Brown University, Fall 2024
“Volunteering at Fuente Nueva for after school basketball was a highlight of my time in Granada. Working with the goofy, energetic, curious students was an incredible way to move outside of the study abroad bubble and become a part of the Granada community. Engaging with the students sparked so much joy and helped me bring the Spanish that I was working hard to learn in the classroom into the real world. When I had an injury mid-semester and couldn't play basketball, the students and teachers were so caring. I explained how my knee brace worked to the kids and calmed their worried looks, cheered them on as they played, and read books or played games with students who preferred being on the sidelines. Some of my students cried on my last day there—volunteering will be a gift for you and the kids you work with!”
--Brown University, Spring 2024
“The activities planned by CASA were all very enjoyable. Each event was designed to better our Spanish by encouraging interactions with the local community. Granada is a rich and diverse cultural destination. Not attending CASA events would be a loss for CASA students."
--Yale University, Spring 2024
“CASA trips felt like a return to elementary school in the best possible way: all we had to do was show up and we'd have a weekend of adventure without any worries of planning! These excursions were the best way to get to know our CASA cohort and leaders and explore a new place. Whether it was visiting a church built inside a mosque after a delicious (free!) meal, laying on the beach, or touring an olive oil factory, I got to see and learn so much more about Andalucia than I ever could have by myself. One of the most meaningful trips was to Granada's mosque. The community was so warm and welcoming, and invited us for Friday prayer and lunch. My friend and I took them up on the offer and were embraced with such openness—the women at the mosque helped us dress in appropriate coverings, brought us to the prayer space, and ensured we were well fed. Sharing incredible couscous and vegetables with women from all around the world, working across language barriers, and remembering that kindness and understanding is possible across religious differences made for one of my favorite meals and moments of my semester abroad.”
--Brown University, Spring 2024
“Dance is one of my biggest passions, so when I got to Granada, I was eager to find a studio where I could continue dancing. After finding a hip hop studio on Instagram, Soul Dance, I was excited to get started. This experience ended up being one of the most rewarding and immersive activities that I did during my time in Spain. During the 4 months I spent in Granada, I attended Soul Dance twice a week for two hours at a time. I was the only dancer there who spoke English, so I was nervous about embarrassing myself or misunderstanding instructions. However, although it was initially difficult to understand the thick Andalusian accent, I found dancing to be its own language, allowing me to communicate with the other dancers through our shared love for dance. The people I met there were always so kind to me, and they often went out of their way to help me with my Spanish speaking skills. By the time I had left Granada, I had made so many welcoming friends, and I had made countless unforgettable memories.”
--Brown University Spring 2025
"Enrolling in the UGR was the best decision I made during my time in Granada. I really was looking for an immersive experience that both allowed me to grow as a Spanish-speaker but also to engage with the Spanish community and culture, and the UGR gave me exactly that. I ended up taking half of my classes in La Facultad de Psicología in the UGR and the other half in the CLM as part of the Hispanic studies program. The hybrid program gave me the perfect balance between genuine immersion in a Spanish classroom and a more comfortable international environment at the CLM. It was such a unique and special experience walking into a classroom at the UGR for the first time knowing I was in a completely new environment and learning how to integrate with the students there and adapt to a completely different educational system. And I learned so much from just that– the novelty of it all. There was always a vibrant energy and excitement walking into la facultad every day, and through class and group projects I was able to build meaningful connections with the Spanish students I met there who I still keep in touch with regularly to this day."
--Brown University, Spring 2025
