Travel Study Blog
The Spanish & Portuguese Travel Study Scholarship provides recipients $1000-$2000 towards their participation in our immersive cultural and educational abroad experiences as part of our Travel Study Programs. Each Travel Study Scholarship recipient is required to create a blog that highlights their experience abroad.
The 2025 Spanish & Portuguese Travel Study Scholarship Recipients are:
Matthew Starr
Matthew Starr
Study Abroad Program: Travel Study Granada Session 1, 2025
Majors: Human Biology & Society, Public Affairs
“As a self-proclaimed foodie, one of the most exciting parts of living abroad was trying local dishes. It often felt like I was on a culinary tour of Southern Spain, exploring new flavors and comparing how food differed across the various cities I visited: Barcelona, Madrid, Granada, Málaga, and Sevilla. Food became a way for me to connect with people. I often practiced my Spanish while ordering at restaurants; my friends and I enjoyed discovering new words on every menu.”
Roxy Borg
Roxanne Borg
Study Abroad Program: Travel Study Granada Session 1, 2025
Major: Linguistics and Psychology
Minor: Spanish
“For my first time traveling abroad, I am so thankful that I got to spend a wonderful five weeks of the summer exploring over nine cities in Spain, improving my Spanish, and making life long memories with new friends. As a student in the advanced cohort, I came into this program with an intermediate level Spanish hoping to improve my fluency and immerse myself in the vibrant Spanish culture. I can say that after five wonderful weeks in Spain, I have not only noticed a drastic improvement in my speaking and oral comprehension but also fully embraced the Spanish way of life. From sharing tapas, navigating the streets of ancient towns, exploring palaces and gardens, and singing karaoke with everyone including the TAs, I have begun to understand how Spaniards live life to the fullest, taking their time to appreciate the world and people around them.”
Daniel Hudson
Daniel Hudson
Study Abroad Program: Travel Study Granada Session 1, 2025
Majors: Spanish and History
“As I flew into Barcelona and soared over the Spanish landscape, I found myself gobsmacked at Spain’s resemblance to California. From its dry hills and forests to its golden coastlines, it already felt a little like home. Despite its stark resemblance, I had no idea just how much beauty I would soon find in Spain’s unique intricacies.”
Emeli Andrade
Emeli Andrade
Study Abroad Program: Travel Study Granada Session 1, 2025
Majors: Spanish and International Development Studies
Minor: Central American Studies
“Hi! My name is Emeli, and I am currently a rising fourth-year student who has recently studied abroad in Spain. Never did I think in my whole life that I would end up living abroad and embracing Spanish culture to the fullest. I remember sitting down with my family and friends and having these long conversations about studying abroad and my dream to explore the world. To me, this seemed like an idea that was out of this world and so far to reach. Who would have thought that a first-generation college student whose family is from El Salvador would have gotten this opportunity to take in such an amazing program! Finally, in December of 2024, this dream came true, and I was accepted into the study abroad program! Seeing this acceptance filled me with excitement, and I could not wait for June to arrive any faster.”
Audrey Lee
Audrey Lee
Study Abroad Program: Travel Study Granada Session 1, 2025
Major: Biochemistry
“When I first arrived in Spain for UCLA”s Travel Study program, I thought I knew what to expect from the food. I’d had “Spanish” meals back home through some paella at a restaurant or maybe some tapas. What I discovered, though, was much more interesting than I’d anticipate: Spanish cuisine carries the stories of conquests, trade routes, and cultural exchanges that shaped the country, and each dish offers a glimpse into this layered history.”
Tzippy Moehringer
Tzipporah Moehringer
Study Abroad Program: Travel Study Granada Session 2, 2025
Major: Spanish
“On the first day of class in Barcelona, we learned about the concept of “adentro” vs. “afuera” as it relates to the journey of becoming. This class, Aventuras y desventuras en el camino (“Adventures and Misfortunes on the Journey), centered around medieval literature and the journey of the famed caballero. They typically begin their stories “adentro” (inside their community) but journey into the “afuera” (outside and away from home), where they have the opportunity to fight battles and overcome challenges before returning home with confidence and a changed outlook on life. As we read famous tales—including those of Don Quijote, Amadis de Gaula, and Catalina de Erauso—and went on various excursions to historical and religious sites in Granada and all over Spain, not only did we get to see where these tales and histories were written but also got to experience firsthand what it feels like to leave the adentro for the afuera.”
Past Recipients
The 2024 Spanish & Portuguese Travel Study Scholarship Recipients are:
Yun-Rong Ting
Travel Study Program: Spanish: Granada Session 1, 2024
Major: Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics
Minors: Spanish, Biomedical Research
“As I reflect on my 6 weeks in Spain, I feel incredibly grateful for all the new friends and memories made in our travel study cohort, the wonderful TAs and professors, and the opportunity to have experienced a small taste of what life would be like living in Spain. After short stays in Barcelona and Madrid during the first week of the program, we spent the last 5 weeks in Granada in the south of Spain where we were able to settle into our routines. One of our favorite spots to eat lunch or dinner was a tapas restaurant in the heart of Granada called La Riviera. We bonded over delicious tapas, massive bocadillos (sandwiches) for only 4 euros, and could practice our Spanish ordering food. The great thing about Granada is that tapas are traditionally served free with a beverage!”
Erick Portillo
Travel Study Program: Summer Spain 2024
Major: Spanish and Chicana/o Studies
“This was definitely one of my most memorable summers, in addition to having a great time I was still able to learn so much about Spain’s history, and its diverse cultures all across its provinces. It was great being able to earn credits towards my degree, by participating in this immersive program, being able to visit so many of the locations that I had read about previously, experience a new world, and culture so different yet similar. If I could, I would 100% experience this again.”
The 2023 Spanish & Portuguese Travel Study Scholarship recipients are:
Leia Broughton
Travel Study Program: Spanish: Granada, Madrid, Barcelona (Session 1: June Start, Summer 2023)
Major: Linguistics and English
Minor: Theater
“Traveling abroad can be intimidating. Having never traveled outside of the United States before, I was scared to embark on a month-long trip around Spain, but my excitement for adventure and experience outweighed all of my fears and anxieties. As a student in the beginners Spanish 2/3 course, I was not confident in my knowledge and skills of the Spanish language; however, after meeting my peers, the professors, and the TAs, my anxieties were eased knowing that I had a support system with me.”
Sofia Irvin
Study Abroad Program: Spain Travel Study
Major: Pre- Human Biology & Society
“This was my first trip abroad and the exposure to the Spanish language and culture was invaluable to me. Highlights of the program include visiting the La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, taking a tour of the Museo Nacional Del Prado in Madrid, learning the deep history of the Alhambra, and how to flamingo dance in Granada. Most importantly, I had the fortunate chance to develop my Spanish speaking and writing skills. These skills have already helped me in conversation both in Spain and at home in Los Angeles.”
Lynette Salas
Program Name: UCLA Travel Study — Barcelona, Madrid, Granada Session 2 Summer 2023
Majors: Sociology and Spanish majors
Minor: Education Studies
“Studying abroad seems like something that’s essential in the college experience. I knew it was something I wanted to do before I left UCLA. I was so glad to have chosen the UCLA Travel Study Program in Barcelona, Madrid and Granada. Classes took place in the morning until the early afternoon, after which we had scheduled excursions and tours and had free time to enjoy the city and have dinner. A five week trip, many stops to pressed coin machines and nine cities later, there aren’t enough words to describe the memories I made and the growth I experienced studying abroad in one of the most beautiful countries in the world.”