Zambrano Makes the Most of Semester in Spain Program

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For finance major and Spanish minor Alexis (Lexi) Zambrano ’18, her classes have taken her across the world all the way to Seville, Spain.

Zambrano took part in Trinity’s Semester in Spain program over the summer, fulfilling her language requirements and getting an unforgettable experience at the same time. “The architecture, the food, the people in Seville—I will definitely go back,” she said.

And while Zambrano has visited Colombia, where her father grew up, and Mexico, where her mother is from, the experience in Spain was very different. “It was a huge change, in terms of culture, weather, and other things.” She explained that a glass of water was more expensive than a glass of soda, and that the weather seemed especially hotter with temperatures averaging 95 degrees while she was in Seville. “Luckily, the school is air conditioned,” she said.

For her coursework, she took a class in historical literature. “It involved legends. So we would read about legends that took place in Seville, then visit those sites. It didn’t seem like learning! I also took a course on culture.”

Before Zambrano departed for Seville, she received information about her host family and was able to talk with her host mother. She also received itineraries, maps, and other helpful information. “Everything was laid out in advance,” Zambrano said.

And while Zambrano didn’t really know any of her classmates before the trip, she became good friends with her roommate, who attends Geneva College in Pennsylvania. “We had a blast. On long weekends, we took minivacations to Barcelona, Ronda, and Malaga.”

A defender and forward for Trinity’s Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAC) championship women’s soccer team, Zambrano also became a fan of the local soccer team, Sevilla Football Club.

Zambrano encourages others to consider studying abroad. “I would urge other students to go outside of their comfort zone and not overthink the experience, because it will over exceed any expectations going into it.”