Carl R. Ice College of Engineering

Student Summary – Valencia, Spain

Ethan Copple, industrial engineering

Jan. 2, 2019 – May 12, 2019

Copple on the beach Copple by a castle Group of students

Why did you choose this location?

I chose Valencia because it was one of the only poly-technical schools in Spain outside of a very large city. I chose to go to Spain primarily because I wanted to continue to practice my Spanish, which I have been studying for 5 years, and also experience Western European culture.

Did you live on campus, off campus or with a host family? What advice can you give for choosing where to live?

I lived with a host family during my time in Valencia. The best advice is to treat them well and invest time with them if possible. Also, do what you can to minimize conflict and work with them, their language, their culture, and their way of understanding you. If you intend to not be around very much and are not interested in the relationship between you and a family, apartments would be your best bet. If you want to invest in a more local experience, practice language, etc., then living with a family is better.

What courses/subjects did you study?

I studied differential equations and wind surfing in the Mediterranean Sea.

Please list some of the special activities, events and/or travel experiences that you had.

  • Windsurfing Class
  • Las Fallas Festival
  • Personal Trips to Italy, France, Denmark, and Scotland
  • Personal Trips to Locations Around Spain (Sevilla, Cordoba, Toledo, Cuenca, Madrid, Salamanca, etc.)
  • Day Trips Around Valencia - Winery Tour, Visiting Abufera National Park, Museum Tours, etc.

What advice can you give to someone considering your study abroad location and/or a study abroad experience?

Consider if you want to be in a far bigger city (i.e. Barcelona or Madrid) or if you want to be able to travel by walking, biking, busing, etc. quite easily. Valencia also has a beach, moderate temperatures, and a very well recognized polytech school. USAC (my provider) also only had a small number of activities and, therefore, planning weekend trips was easy and a possibility virtually every weekend. Las Fallas (Spring Semester) is really something to see and experience (it is essentially a party for a week across the entire city). There is also an airport in the city which makes traveling substantially easier.