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CEA CAPA Alumni

Welcome back, CEA CAPA alumni! Thank you for studying abroad with us. We hope you’ve returned with an enhanced résumé, new friendships, unforgettable memories, and most importantly, a broader view of the world.

The best part about being an alumnus? The opportunity to help and support other students go on their own great adventure abroad!

You can also explore re-entry resources and opportunities to connect with our alumni network as you transition back into home life and learn how to reap more benefits from your experience going forward.

There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered.

Nelson Mandela

CEA CAPA Alumni Ambassador Program

Share Your Experience With Students on Campus

Your study abroad journey doesn’t have to end when your program does. Leverage your experience and enthusiasm for study abroad as a CEA CAPA Alumni Ambassador! Our program gives you the chance to inspire others to embark on their own study abroad adventure.

Our goal is also to help you answer the “what now?” question. We help you better articulate your growth, clarify your career aspirations, and consider your next steps after graduation.

We designed this program around a student schedule: it is flexible and customizable based on your availability, interests, and goals. Make the position your own by developing an outreach plan that best fits your campus and interests!

Become an Alumni Ambassador

What it's Like Being an Ambassador

As a CEA CAPA Alumni Ambassador, you create study abroad awareness in person and via social media, while supporting students through the pre-departure process. You commit for at least one semester, and can continue as long as you’d like!

All outreach must follow guidelines established by your home campus and study abroad office.

Outreach may include:

  • Supporting the study abroad office
  • Presenting to student groups
  • Assisting CEA CAPA representatives during their visit to your campus
  • Create a video or blog for CEA CAPA social media
  • Share your experience on social media
  • Answer student questions through the Ambassador Directory
    Program Benefits

    CEA CAPA’s Alumni Ambassador program gives you the following perks:

    • $300 payment upon completion of the program + additional rewards!
    • Ambassador Go-Again Discount* (Double the alumni rate!)
    • Letter of recommendation
    • Academic credit (if approved at home institution)
    • MIIS Graduate School Scholarship for all former and current ambassadors
    • Career-advising workshops and support
    • Leadership opportunities and professional development
    • Onsite Ambassadorship Program (limited locations available)
      • Student leadership and professional development opportunity for our high-performing Ambassadors to be selected to return to where they studied abroad, support program operations, and help facilitate the study abroad experience for onsite students.
    Qualifications
    • Enthusiastic CEA CAPA alumni who want to support prospective study abroad students
    • Hold a minimum of 2.5 GPA (lower averages considered on case-by-case basis)
    • Financially cleared with CEA CAPA

    Contact the CEA CAPA Student Engagement Team for more information: alumni@ceastudyabroad.com

    Become an Alumni Ambassador

    What to Do Once You’re Home Again

    Log into your Student Portal Account for:

    Feeling a bit of reverse culture shock? Don’t worry, it’s completely normal. For many students, this can be more difficult than culture shock experienced overseas.

    Here are some ways to facilitate your re-entry process:

    Become an Alumni Ambassador

    Your study abroad journey does not end when your program does. Leverage your experience and enthusiasm for study abroad as a CEA Alumni Ambassador!

    Join The Program
    LET'S CHAT

    CEA CAPA Education Abroad Arrival Process in Seville, Spain

    August 01, 2023
    by Sarah Everett
    Looking up at cathedral from courtyard

    Beyond the Airport: CEA CAPA Arrival Process in Seville, Spain


    Following a combination of layovers, traveling through time zones, and lacking restful sleep, I found myself functioning off eagerness and disbelief upon my arrival at San Pablo Airport (SVQ) in Sevilla, Spain. For months, I anticipated studying abroad with CEA CAPA, and now, after gathering all the documentation, tightly rolling my clothes into packing cubes, and making the trek from Seattle, WA, to Dallas, TX, to Madrid, Spain, and lastly, to Sevilla, Spain - I stood at the edge of the baggage claim. I was at the edge of beginning a new experience and establishing my new home.  

    CEA CAPA TRANSPORTATION TO MY NEIGHBORHOOD 

    Since I arrived at SVQ during the airport pickup window (between 8 a.m - 8 p.m.), I was grateful to take advantage of CEA CAPA’s organized airport pickup and drop-off to my Casa de Sevilla housing assignment in Alameda de Hércules. After collecting my bag at baggage claim, I gathered with a group of CEA CAPA students in the arrivals area before being directed to board a large bus. While I was undoubtedly fatigued from traveling for over a day, I appreciated getting my first glimpse into the city from the bus as it drove students to their appropriate neighborhoods.  

     

    MEETING MY HOUSE MOM & SPEAKING SPANISH 

    As we approached my housing assignment, the bus pulled into a plaza called Alameda de Hércules. Little did I know at the time, but I later learned in one of my study abroad courses that Alameda de Hércules is the oldest park in Europe. Today, the cafes and bars that line the street are often lively as people enjoy each other's company. 

    When the bus stopped at Alameda de Hércules, CEA CAPA coordinated to have my house mom waiting to guide me back to the apartment, where she gave me a set of keys and instructed me on how to navigate the building properly. Bear in mind some of the streets are cobblestone and narrow, so the bus won't drop you off at your exact address. Believe it or not, the picture below is one of the medium-sized streets as some are only as wide as my arm span! Thankfully, I managed to pack light and only brought one rolling suitcase, my backpack, and a tote bag which helped make the walk simple. Less is more! 

    Small cobblestone street in Seville

    By the time I got to the house, it was late afternoon, so my house mom kindly cooked some lunch which was nice since it was a while since I last ate. She proceeded to ask me about any food preferences or dietary restrictions. I can confidently say our house mom’s home-cooked meals are truly the best meal plan possible – fresh ingredients centered around a Mediterranean diet – delicious! While everything she made tasted incredible, my favorite meal from abroad was “pisto con huevo.”  

    Eggs and sweet potatoes on a plate

    Pisto con huevo was one of our first meals upon arrival. Pisto is similar to ratatouille with various vegetables. We were served with eggs and sweet potatoes on the side! It's common to have a baguette with lunch and dinner too. The baguette gets passed around the table and ripped apart by each person to pair with the main meal.

    Our exchanges were in Spanish, and since it was two years since my last Spanish class, it was a challenge for me to get immediately thrown back into it – especially without rest. It quickly became clear I needed to swallow my ego and ask for clarity or follow-up questions if I wanted to set myself up to improve my Spanish. I knew the language adjustment would continue to be challenging, however, I continued trying and leaned into the opportunities I had to engage with my house mom, other locals, and my roommates as we all tried to learn more about the language and culture of the people who call Sevilla home. 

    ARRIVAL ACTIVITIES: BIKE TOUR, CATHEDRAL TOUR, ORIENTATION SESSIONS & CÓRDOBA 

    CEA CAPA organized many orientation activities upon the first days of our arrival, including a bike tour throughout the city. This provided a first-hand experience of how accessible Sevilla is for either walkers or bikers with well-developed bike lanes. We also participated in a guided tour of the Catedral de Sevilla, which is a focal point of the city.

    student bikes along city bike paths 
    CEA CAPA provided students with a comprehensive schedule of sessions concerning academic expectations and cultural adjustment tips, in addition to other program orientation sessions before courses started. It was lovely to take a day trip through some of the countryside to Córdoba on the first Saturday in Spain, where we took a tour of the Mezquita-Cathedral de Córdoba. We also explored the town for a couple of hours, ate lunch, and even walked the grounds of the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos before reconvening with the group to take the bus provided by CEA CAPA back to Sevilla. 

    Looking up to the Cathedral from orange trees in the courtyard

     

    TIME FOR MYSELF 

    Before leaving home, I vowed to journal every day during my semester abroad with an internal commitment to remember every moment. Honest disclosure: I failed to do so.  

    During my first week in Sevilla, I kept busy and adjusted to many changes. Being surrounded by the Spanish language, adjusting to new schedules, participating in arrival activities, and meeting so many new people was incredibly exciting yet, simultaneously draining. As much as I wanted to capture everything, I recognized my body was asking for rest by the end of each day. As a quick fix, I put notes in a bulleted list on my phone, and then once I had some more time for myself, I referenced my notes before journaling. Once I was better acclimated to a few days in, I intentionally wrote while sitting along the Rio Guadalquivir - only about a 20-minute walk from my home or the CEA CAPA Seville Center. The river has a bright atmosphere with chatter, street music, and sunshine. 

    Two students in front of a river

     

    I reflected on my robust arrival process during the initial days of my study abroad program and realized Sevilla became more of a home to me through new routines, culture, and people I surrounded myself with. 


    Sarah Everett is the Content Creator - Blogger.