Study Abroad Experiences

Introduction

I’m a fourth year student majoring in International Development Studies and Minoring in Spanish. Over the winter semester of 2025, I took part in the Trent in Bolivia (TIB) program, allowing me to study at the Universidad Saint Francis Xavier in Sucre, Bolivia. TIB offered a unique opportunity to take immersive Spanish lessons, study courses related to my International Development Major, and live with a host family in Sucre, Bolivia.

What Spanish classes at Dalhousie did you take ahead of your study abroad? Did they help you prepare for the experience?

Before studying abroad, I took SPAN1035, Accelerated Beginning Spanish online and SPAN 2021, Intermediate Spanish I face to face, which were instrumental in preparing me to study abroad in Bolivia. Small class sizes allowed me to form good relationships with my professors and get individualized help when needed. The student-run, volunteer-led Spanish forum allowed me to connect with fellow Spanish students and visiting international students. Inter-university exchanges and virtual discussions with Spanish tutors and students from around the Spanish speaking world (Spain, Colombia, Guatemala, Perú), both facilitated by my professors, allowed me to practice speaking with native-Spanish speakers, familiarizing myself with different accents and cultural traditions. Each of these factors helped me build speaking confidence ahead of going abroad.

How did studying abroad improve your Spanish?

Despite the great Spanish department at Dal, living and studying in Bolivia improved my Spanish beyond the level I ever could have in Canada. It really was an immersive Spanish experience, improving both my speaking and listening skills.

What was your day to day experience like?

For the month of January, my classmates and I attended intensive Spanish courses 5 days a week. These were instrumental in getting me up to speed on the language skills I would need to optimize my experience in Bolivia. As the semester progressed, we began taking other international development and anthropology courses, focused on the Bolivian context. Classes ran in the mornings and afternoons, with a break for lunch — the most important meal of the day in Bolivia, which each student spent with their host families.

The city of Sucre, also known as la Ciudad Blanca has beautiful architecture and is full of history. I especially loved visiting the Mercado Central to buy fresh fruits and juices. I appreciated how friendly and patient the people of Sucre were as I practiced my Spanish. I joined the city’s run club and connected with local runners, who brought me trail running in the surrounding hills, invited me to volunteer in the community, and played a large part in making me feel more at home while living abroad. I’m still in touch with some of them now and hope to return to Bolivia soon to reconnect with them.

What were some highlights of your time abroad?

Over the month of February, Carnaval took place, a traditional Latin-American festival featuring music, dance, parades, water balloon fights, and a lot of lively street celebrations. Beyond Carnaval, I was able to travel over weekends during the semester and stick around for a few weeks after completing my classes in order to explore the rest of the country. Some highlights include visiting the Uyuni Salt Flats, exploring Potosi’s mines, climbing the 6000-foot Huayna Potosi, and completing the El Choro Trek, which follows part of the old Inca trail.