October 31st, 2018

​Hola Hermanos,

I miss you all so much and am actually surprised at how much I have been longing the sweltering Columbia Saturdays at Willie B. 

I am currently writing to you from Málaga, located on the Costa Del Sol, so one may expect this city to live up to the reputation of having 320 days of sun a year. Alas no, today marks the 7th day of rain here so Málaga may need to update their statistics.

Despite the rain, this city has amazed me in how much it has to offer. From the beautiful beaches to rich culture and night life I can honestly say there is no where that I would rather be. I truly urge any brother considering studying abroad to research opportunities here in Málaga. This is the perfect Spanish city as you are able to delve into the Spanish culture and are sometimes forced to only speak spanish, which is something that larger cities often lack. Another plus is the proximity to Spain’s third largest airport which makes weekend travel throughout Europe rather inexpensive and easy. This weekend I am traveling to Tenerife, one of the Canary Islands off the coast of Africa. I am really trying to make the most of this experience by traveling to unusual places that I likely will not have the opportunity to visit in the future. 

I can truly say that I owe my complete study abroad experience to SOU, particularly to Brother Keenan Smith who studied abroad in Málaga the spring of his junior year. Upon his return he spoke so highly of this city which urged me to look into Málaga as a potential location to study abroad. Through further conversations, I was confident that Málaga would be an ideal location for me to immerse myself in the spanish culture while being in a city with so much history and culture. After being accepted into the program, Keenan wrote three pages of recommendations and suggestions for my time in Málaga. He was always available to answer any of my questions or concerns, no matter how redundant or silly. 
This is what truly defines the significance of brotherhood to me. I am so grateful for SOU and the friendships I have gained from it. I can’t wait to see you all so soon!

Besos,

Ariella