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I'd like to do a master's program overseas (I'm from the USA), and I'm thinking about Spain (or South America) and Italy as my top choices. I speak both of those languages reasonably well, but I'd like to "live" somewhere for a year so that I'm really fluent. Some of the people on the South America board were giving me some great feedback on Argentina . . . I thought I'd see if you guys had any feedback on the "Spain vs. Italy" question? Here's the background:
- I don't think I want to be in the biggest of cities (Madrid, Barcelona, Rome), but anything else from mid-sized city to small town is a-ok. I love the outdoors, so I'd definitely like to have easy access to . . . someplace beautiful and outdoorsy!
- Right now, I'm thinking my top picks in terms of universities are at Salamanca and Sevilla in Spain and Siena and Bologna in Italy.
- For you guys who have been to those cities or countries for a while . . . any thoughts on . . . the eagerness of locals to welcome foreign students (or are they fed up with too many visitors in these places)? (It's really important for me to get involved "locally", maybe volunteering or playing a sport or the like . . .) How about the "beauty" and "feel" of these places? where would you spend a year or two if you had the choice?
Thanks a lot! I really appreciate your thoughts!

In the long term, I would think Spanish would be more useful (especially if you are going to move back to the US when you are done; lots of Spanish speakers).

I studied in Sevilla, and similar to what we were saying about Argentina, the dialect they speak there is a little different. Andalucian is kind of close to Latin American Spanish, but still not the "pure" Spanish you will get in Madrid (I never had an easier time than when I was in Madrid, as far as the language goes). I am not sure about the dialect in Salamanca.

I loved Sevilla, but I don't remember a lot of "oudoorsy" type things, if you are thinking parks and such. Sevilla is a very Spanish city; meaning that they mainly speak Spanish, they take siestas, things are very traditional (I did not find this to be the case in Madrid or Barcelona)...You will definitely learn Spanish there, as you will be forced to speak it. It is the capital of Andalucia, so a rather large city. I found it to be beautiful, and loved it.

Salamanca would be downright awesome. I'd be really jealous if you went to study there. It has the feel of a small town, as opposed to Sevilla which is a mid-sized city. It's incredibly beautiful, good university, and they speak Castilian (spanish spanish). And if you wanted, Madrid is a daytrip away.

In my totally subjective view, I'd much rather live in Italy. Don't get me wrong, I loved Spain as well, but Italy had just so much more......history......culture......art.....I don't know, but I enjoyed it more. Again, just my opinion.

Hi,

Im currently living in Sevilla, and will be here for one year. Last year, I spent an entire year in Barcelona, and while I did learn loads of Spanish (and have had plenty of opportunities to practice in both places, despite the Catalan in Barcelona), I havent found people very welcoming to foreign students. It seems that there are loads of American students in Sevilla, much more than in Barcelona.

Sevilla is nice, but I think there are more beautiful places to be in Spain. Have you considered Granada? The Sierra Nevadas are right there, and Im sure you can do plenty of outdoorsy things there.

Granada also has a university.

If I could do it over again, I would choose to spend two years in Barcelona, it was amazing.

Spain V's Italy - my moneys on Spain, 2-1 !!!

I think Spanish is more practical, especially for the United States... however, what do you propose to do after you return? That being said, I say go to Italy! I love Italy. I have traveled to both countries, granted spent more time in Italy, and even Mexico (but I think I liked Mexico more than Spain, it's just raw), and it's Italy! Spain is Spain.

With regards to the locals and students intermingling, I don't think they really do in any city. Locals are used to these well-established universities. When I was traveling in Italy, I visited several university towns (Perugia, Siena, Milan) home to major foreigners, but you didn't see much mingling. In fact, most of the students stuck to themselves in the markets and made it known that they were students -- it was kind of obnoxious, speaking English really loud, etc. I think the locals just accept them because they help the economy in some way.

I envy your decision!

Ciao

Spanish opens you to all of latin america and spain. thats a huge part of the world.

will

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Both are wonderful... either way, you'll eat well and absorb culture. I am jealous!