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Name: Ben Rudow
Program: Salamanca, Spain - Winter 2006
Hometown: White Plains, NY
U.S. University: Cornell University
E-mail address: bcr8@cornell.edu
Our Director, Lee Frankel, nominated Ben to be our Student-of-the-Month upon hearing that Ben had made a bet with his host mother that he could go two days without speaking English. Ben won the bet, along with a Universidad de Salamanca sweatshirt and 10 jars of his favorite chocolate, as well as a nomination to be our Student-of-the-Month.
We talked to Ben recently and asked him to share his thoughts on living in Salamanca, his experience with ASA, and his advice to students looking to go abroad.
Why did you decide to study abroad?
I had taken a trip to Argentina about 4 years ago and I really loved living abroad, so I wanted to study abroad again. I had never been to Spain before, and I had heard from a lot of people that they loved studying abroad durnig college. Also, I´m studying pre-med right now, and I really want to be able to speak in Spanish to my patients one day.
What has been the best part of studying abroad in Salamanca?
I have really liked living with my host mother, Lourdes. Living with her has been really great for learning how to speak spanish and improving my listening and understanding. Also its been "interesting" to try new foods! I also really like the nightlife in Salamanca. It could just be the nightlife in
Spain, but I think Salamanca is a little different. It's a perfect size to go out and see a different place every weekend, but still be able to run into your friends and meet new people.
What do you like most about ASA?
I really like that ASA is much smaller and more personal than all the other groups that are studying here in Salamanca. Our trips are a lot easier to plan, and it's a lot easier just to coordinate meetings and to get to know everyone.
What advice would you give to students thinking of study abroad?
DO IT! It might be one of the coolest things you´ll do in your entire life, seriously...
What advice would you give to students who are about to leave to study abroad?
Pack a lot less than you think you need. And just be willing to go with the flow. You can´t really prepare for the experience you´ll have because every experience is different. But just keep an open mind and be optimistic...
How has studying abroad changed you?
Besides getter a little fatter because I eat too much, I've learned a HUGE amount of Spanish, which has been great. My interests have also changed a little bit and I think that I can appreciate new things that I was never able to appreciate before. For example, I used to hate going to art museums. But now that I am here in Spain taking an art history class in Spanish, and able to visit the museums of the artists that I am studying about, I hate them so much less!
What's your funniest moment been abroad?
The funniest moment was during my first week. Lourdes made dinner for my roommate and I and because we are both tall, she figured we would need a lot of food.
So one night, she made 13 artichokes for me and Forrest! 13 artichokes!!!
And we were like, okay, I guess we each get 6 and a half each, huh? And her response was, "Well you guys are just too big, so I don´t know much food to make for you." I think that 6 artichokes is more than enough for anybody, especially after a full meal of chicken.
There have been a lot of other funny moments everywhere we have been, but I think sometimes it just makes it funnier because we are in a different country and not really always able to say exactly what we want to say.
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