Alexander Farabaugh '27 wanted a truly immersive Spanish experience, but he never imagined he'd become part of a Spanish family.
During the first week of the semester at Universidad de Sevilla, students are encouraged to shop around before committing to their schedule. Think you might be interested in Spanish history? Sample the first class and see for yourself. Farabaugh (above, 2nd from left) sampled A LOT of classes. Half of them were taught in English; half were taught in Spanish. By the end of the first week, he realized there was an easy path and then the much more challenging one.
"I didn't decide to study abroad for an extended vacation. I wanted to learn and I wanted to immerse myself in the culture. The English classes didn't seem very rigorous, and I wasn't sure I'd get much out of them. Honestly, there was a moment where I wondered if I was making a terrible mistake, but I signed up for all Spanish-only classes."
Farabaugh is a biology major in the Albany Medical College program, and before traveling to Spain, he tacked on a Spanish minor. He figured a fully immersive experience in the classroom was the quickest way to fluency, and if was going to go all-in, why not spend the spring living in a Spanish speaking household as well?
Students in the Worldstrides program have the option of choosing an apartment or a host family. There's more uncertainty in the latter, but Farabaugh's decision was easy.
"I can always live in an apartment when I graduate. But I knew this would be a unique experience, and it's been amazing. Plus, if you choose an apartment, you've got to buy groceries. I don't have to worry about that living here."
Farabaugh is living with Isabel, an 80-year-old Spanish woman who doesn't speak a word of English and her 23-year-old grandson, Borja. There's also Nate, an American student studying abroad in the same program. For four months, this is family.
"Isabel tells me and Nate, 'You boys are equal in my eyes with my grandson.'"
Well, not quite equal. Farabaugh and Nate each have their own bedrooms, while the grandson by blood sleeps on the couch. But there are no hard feelings.
"He's such a great guy. He's studying tourism and wants to be a hotel manager, so he needs to perfect his English. We help each other in that way. Plus he has a friend group established here. We all go out to bars together and have a great time."
At home, Isabel cooks (her tortilla de patatas is supposedly out of this world) and cleans, and the only time there's ever any friction at all is during card night.
"We play a card game called Continental and it can get pretty intense. Sometimes if there's a rules dispute, Isabel calls a relative to be the referee."
As for school, Farabaugh said the lectures were a bit difficult to absorb in the first week, but it's getting easier. The faculty are all very accommodating, and shopping for courses helped Farabaugh choose faculty that maybe speak a bit slower than others. It can be intimidating to go all-in on an immersive experience, but Farabaugh figures it's better than going halfway.
"I encourage students that if they do plan on traveling abroad, just go and do it. Living this different life with a different family in a different place, it broadens your horizons. I'm learning things and having experiences that I'd be missing out on if I didn't come here and choose to live with a host family."
Plus, he's eating like a king and his Continental game is rapidly improving.
