Signing In
I knew — before I curled into my seat on the plane beside a girl I’d just struck conversation with, before I stepped foot in Pearson Airport, before that first Blyth email even arrived in my inbox — from the moment I started filling out the application form and checking off optional excursions — that this would be a summer of firsts. First time doing anything with Blyth Academy, yes, first time doing a summer school program; but also first time I would go to Europe, first time I would go surfing, first time I would go to a real concert. And who knew how many more firsts I’d end up checking off a bucket list I never expected to make this month?
Get Sarah Viola’s stories in your inbox
Join Medium for free to get updates from this writer.
I could have picked any other trip — Gritaly; Australia; France — or any other program — photography; French; math (no, actually, I would never choose math). But I ended up here: Spain, July 2016, 12th Grade English.
Even though I faltered over the initial decision of which country to pick (Greece and Australia have beautiful beaches, but so does Spain; I’ve got distant family from Italy, so I could have gone there; I’ve taken thirteen years of French in school, so I could have ordered food easily instead of stumbling over foreign words) I wouldn’t take back the choice I made.
The possibilities here are endless, with too many highlights to list. (This website can help you out if you’re looking for an official travel guide.) But if you’re interested in a vacation here, I would say focus on the food, the beaches, and the music scene. In the vein of Eat, Pray, Love — I never read or watched it, but I’m guessing — this is how to Eat, Swim, Dance across Spain.
