Studying abroad in Spain has always been a dear dream of mine. Although I didn’t know I would end up in Sevilla, an immersive Spanish experience is something I’ve imagined for years. This dream started off small, when middle-school me realized I had an affinity and aptitude for learning another language. I only became more invested in the Spanish language and culture as I progressed through school and eventually visited Spain for the first time during the summer after my senior year.

Unshockingly, I started asking peers and mentors about programs in Spain not long after starting college at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Everyone raved about Sevilla—and rightfully so. With each passing year, I grew more and more certain I would end up in Sevilla one day. Now, that hunch is becoming a reality.

Fun fact: Sevilla is known for its oranges. In springtime in Sevilla, the intoxicating smell of los azahares, or the orange blossoms, fill the air. While many other historical tidbits and cultural details make Sevilla so dreamy, the oranges stuck out to me. With that, Sueñitos Naranjas was born.

Sueñitos Naranjas = Little Orange Dreams

Get it? Like my dreams are orange because the city that made my dream come true is known for its oranges? Clever right? (I’ll stop now.)

All jokes aside, this blog is just a starting place for my little orange dreams. Surely it will be filled with thoughts and adventures from Sevilla and my time abroad, but I hope to continue writing about my travels after my semester in Sevilla. What starts as a way to stay connected with friends and family may grow into a new hobby. As someone who loves writing, sharing my travel experiences will just be another excuse to explore. In fact, I want to make it to all seven continents, which undoubtedly will be the fuel to my (writing) fire. But no matter where I go and no matter what I write, I will know everything started with my first little orange dream: Sevilla, Spain.

January, 2022 – One month before studying abroad