Dario Jovanovski is having a nice summer by anyone's standards. The rising junior for the UMass Lowell men's soccer team is currently in Spain, where he takes in the beach every day, eats delicious food and spends much of his time interacting with the locals.
 
He also has schoolwork to do as well, but that is all a part of the experience. Even despite having class from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday, Jovanovski manages to fit in as much fun and traveling as he can.
 
Simply put, he is having the time of his life.
 
"Cádiz is a beautiful city on the south coast, and I can tell [it is] one of the most beautiful places that I've ever seen," he wrote in an email.
 
The world language major and native of Croatia, who studies Spanish and Italian while at UMass Lowell, is grateful for the opportunity to immerse himself in Spanish culture.
 
Although it can sometimes be difficult to communicate, that is just another challenge for Jovanovski to conquer while overseas. He explained that his host has made him feel at home, while also helping him practice his Spanish.
 
"She barely speaks English [which] is great opportunity for me to improve my Spanish."
 
When he is not in class, Jovanovski likes to explore Spain and other countries in Europe. While he has already stayed in Spain before, that has done nothing to diminish his awe of the beautiful landscape. He especially praises the food and people.
 
He has made a second home at the beach, where he studies and plays soccer until the sun goes down.
 
Jovanovski arrived in Spain on June 26 and will remain there until August 3. He says that his summer stint in Cádiz has been fun, but not without some serious work to be done. As a Division I athlete, on a rising River Hawk team no less, Jovanovski has made a routine of working out each day after class and playing soccer on the beach.
 
He describes himself as "surrounded with soccer" in Spain.
 
Perhaps Jovanovski, who was named to the America East All-Conference Second Team last season for his 11-point year, picked the perfect locale for his studies.
 
"Here, people are crazy on soccer. When you go on the streets everyone is playing, talking and living soccer," he writes. "[It is] amazing how passionate they are!"
 
The recent World Cup mania has also kept the sport on his mind throughout his study abroad trip. Beyond getting to see the Spanish people get worked up over the sport they love, Jovanovski was excited to see Croatia shock the world by making the Final. Although they lost the title to France, Jovanovski pointed out the significance of Croatia's historic run.
 
"[It was the] first time in history we won second place, and I think it is [an] enormous success for a country of four million people," he writes.
 
For fans hungry for Croatian soccer and already impatiently waiting for 2022, Jovanovski teases that they might want to look around closer to home.
 
"For the next World Cup, you might see a few of Croatian players from Lowell, so be prepared."
 
Jovanovski was one of five Croatians on UMass Lowell's men's soccer team in 2017, and their arrival on the squad has contributed to the program's rise in Division I program and as a legitimate threat in the America East Conference.
 
Last season, the River Hawks came just short of clinching the America East crown and earning a spot in the NCAA Tournament in their first year of Division I eligibility. The year before, the team shocked the entire conference when it defied its eighth-place projected finish by winning the regular season championship.
 
Two years removed from that miraculous finish, UMass Lowell is ready to take on the conference championship once more. Jovanovski has his eye on an even loftier goal: winning a national championship.
 
"We have a great team and great coach," he wrote.
 
Despite his excitement at the thought of returning to Lowell and taking the soccer world by storm once again, he is happy to enjoy whatever else Spain has to offer him.
 
Jovanovski also endorses the study abroad experience, and urges his fellow students to take advantage.
 
"I encourage everyone who has a chance to do something like this to do it. Memories and experiences like this are priceless," he concluded.