STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

I studied in Spain a few years ago, so maybe I can offer some advice. You mentioned feeling in a funk and that you've been there two months -- that sounds like culture shock.  Did your school prep you for that at all?  I remember before I went we had to go to a seminar about it, and I kind of expected it to be, well, a shock -- like I would wake up one day feeling miserable.  But instead, it was a general sense of unease that overtook me after about two months.  I wasn't on vacation anymore; I was LIVING there, and I felt like I just wasn't fitting in: with language, local customs, everything.  I wonder if that's what you're experiencing.  If it is, I bet it'll go away with time.

As far as feeling like you're making the most of your time there... are you living with a Spanish family?  That really helped me -- it forced me to immerse myself in the language and everyday life of people, whether or not I was in the mood (and some days, I wasn't!).  If not, are any other students in your program living with families?  Maybe you can get invited to dinner at one of their houses.

I also found an intercambio through the school I was studying with, and we met every week so I could practice Spanish/she could practice English. Is there a way you could do that?  It was great for me because at first, she was just a language partner, but then we became good friends. I definitely didn't go out every night, but I did push myself to go out more than I usually would because it is a great way to meet locals.  Plus, you'll probably find that even one drink eases your nerves and makes Spanish flow off your tongue.  I'm not advising getting drunk or going out seven nights a week if it's not your style, but try and go places where you can mix with locals so you feel like you're getting an authentic experience.

There are lots of other ways to experience the culture and language besides going out at night, if that's not your favorite thing to do.  Does your school have lectures, weekend trips, or cultural outings (plays, movies, etc.)? 

You'll only get to be in Spain for a limited amount of time, so I'd recommend making the most of it by stepping (just a little) outside of your comfort zone.  Speaking Spanish with your friends is great, but you'll take it to a whole new level if you speak and hang out with natives.  And don't feel about about not having the ideal study abroad experience.  Everyone has a different experience -- just like everyone has a different college experience.  There's no one right way to do things, so just do whatever feels right for you, and you'll be fine.

Feel free to PM me if you have more questions!

I studied abroad twice in college, once in Australia for a semester and once in Costa Rica for 5 weeks.  Although they were both entirely different experiences, I think there are some commonalities with the study abroad experience as a whole.  Here are my thoughts:

You've been gone two months now.  You probably haven't seen your family, have you?  Do you have friends from your home university with you?  You might be experiencing a bit of homesickness, which could definitely account for your funk.  I went through it in Australia, even though I had a gazillion friends with me, and I went through it in Costa Rica too because I didn't know a soul on my program, nor did I feel like I really fit in with them.  Anyway, my point is that 2 months away from home is tough.  And compounded by the fact that everything is foreign, including the language, and that makes it all the harder.

The language barrier is tough.  When you really have to think about EVERYTHING, like how to order a sandwich, how to ask directions to get somewhere, and even paying for things, it just gets mentally exhausting after awhile.  I remember in Costa Rica just not wanting to leave the house, because that would mean I would have to talk to someone and I just. didn't. want. to.   

Same thing goes with safety, and I felt this more in CR than I did in AU.  But I felt like I ALWAYS had to watch my back.  That gets exhausting too.  I never felt in CR like I could let my guard down, so I felt really tense the whole trip.  I don't know if you're experiencing any of that and even if you are, I don't know what you could do about it.  But that was something that always bothered my in Costa Rica and it's hard to get past.

Anyway, I guess my point is that you'll have ups and downs while studying abroad.  My time in Australia was some of the best times in my life, but it wasn't without a fair amount of struggle too.  Get out and travel if you can--Paris isn't far away, Portugal and Italy aren't far either.  If you can travel, do so.  Go out and see museums, grab a journal and write at a cafe, or cruise around with a camera and take pictures of the city you're in.  Honestly, I wouldn't worry too much about making friends with locals--it's hard to make fast friends with someone in two months and with a language barrier, it's even harder.  (I'm not saying to just write the locals off, but I wouldn't let the fact that you're not great friends with anyone get you down.)  Practice your Spanish when you can--with tour guides, professors, students, and everyone else, but cut yourself some slack too--you don't need to be speaking Spanish 24/7 to get something out of your experience.

Anyway, I hope this helps.  I hope your experience there starts turning around.