Happy end of the semester! After nearly four months in Pamplona, Spain, here are some pragmatic factors I wish I had considered before choosing my program and how to make the most of it!
Choosing Your Trip
If you know that you want to study abroad but don’t know where, you may find the sheer amount of options overwhelming. Here is what I wish I knew!
Asking what you want from this experience will help sift through your options.
Language learning immediately oriented my options towards Latin America and Spain. Honestly, my two goals, travel and language learning, were constantly in tension with each other. What kept me content with my decision was reminding myself that language immersion was my top priority, and that choosing an area without Spanish would not have served my goals.
A country that has multiple bucket-list destinations will help you affordably live the dream.
I am surprised by how much I traveled around Spain, because it was the most convenient and affordable option. That said, I didn’t have any bucket-list locations in Spain. While this made travel more exploratory, you might want to consider countries with a concentration of your must-see destinations.
There is diversity of culture and landscape within a country.
Why did I think all Spanish cities looked the same? Through traveling, I found that old towns and mountains in the North are strikingly different from the palm trees and bullfighting in the South. I wish I had evaluated such differences to help me prepare and intentionally choose the experience that fit me.
Food is important.
Since Pamplona had fewer of my typical food options, the majority of food I ate was Spanish. It was a fantastic opportunity to experience a rich aspect of culture, but I also found the need to eat food that resonated with me, making me feel healthy and at home. Try to anticipate if you will enjoy the cuisine.
Close and affordable transport changes the game.
When I researched Pamplona, I saw that it had a nearby airport. However, I did not realize how few connections the airport had and how expensive the flights were. This meant I always had to factor in a five-hour journey to the Madrid airport, which ate into my limited time to travel on weekends. Had I known, I might have looked for programs near accessible transportation.
The university academic calendar matters.
I was originally supposed to attend my university for the Fall semester. Luckily for me, I happened to defer my application to the Spring, which included two weeks of Spring break and sporadic one-day breaks throughout the calendar as opposed to the single day of break allotted in the Fall. Had I not switched to Spring, my free time would have looked quite different!
There is a difference between big and small cities
For me, it was difficult to secure a host home in a small city like Pamplona. On the other hand, it was a fantastic location for language immersion, unlike places like Madrid and Barcelona, where I discovered that the international appeal means most locals speak some English. In Pamplona, there are many people who only speak Spanish, which compelled me to rise to the challenge—even if I did so clumsily.
Remembering Your Trip
There are so many ways to document your experience! I am not a souvenir person, but I do wish I had made an effort to bring something back from my time abroad. Along the way, I picked up some creative, affordable ideas to remember my adventure.
Paper Memorabilia
I was inspired by seeing my friends keep napkins with restaurant logos and began collecting decorative tickets, guides, and maps of attractions I saw. During Semana Santa celebrations, I could even hold onto palm leaves or prayer cards that the children hand out. I plan to make a collage out of all the bits and bobs!
Signed Postcards
My friend from Poland likes to buy a postcard from each site and have the people she’s traveling with sign it. I love how personalized this can make each postcard!
Solo Activities
When I solo-traveled, I found it special to watercolor or draw while I waited for my food at restaurants. As I walk down the streets of Pamplona, I love seeing the elderly drink their coffee and solve a crossword puzzle. What a sweet time to enjoy some quiet while unplugged. Plus, you can sign your work with the date and place you did it.
Beli App
Many of my friends like to track where they eat and which restaurants they visit through this app. It’s an unconventional way to map travels and recommendations.
Signed Book
My original intent to buy “Where the Sun Also Rises” by Hemingway fell through, but my goal was for people to sign this literature written about Pamplona. Instead, I opted to have friends sign the cover of a university journal, which gave them more space to write notes.
Utility Items
Once I arrived abroad, I lacked practical items such as a foldable tote to carry my groceries in. Luckily, similar functional items are sold in gift shops at many attractions, so your keepsake can also be utilitarian!
Of course, all of these are suggestions and uniquely defined by you. Beyond answering practical questions of where you are going and how you are going to tangibly remember it, I’m most fond of answering reflective questions with personal moments imprinted by my experience.
To counter Eliza Doolittle, no, the rain in Spain does not fall mainly in the plain. In affirmation of Elizabeth Bennet, indeed, what are men to rocks and mountains? I join in unison with Belle after wanting (and having) adventure in the great, wide somewhere. Here is to the many more adventures that await!
This blog was contributed by Mariana Kadirvel, Global Ambassador for Spring 2026. Mariana is a College of Liberal Arts junior participating in an exchange program at Universidad de Navarra in Pamplona, Spain.
