About the photo: This photo was taken in a palace in a town called Sintra, right outside of Lisbon, Portugal. It was my first trip outside of Spain and I was so amazed by the view that my friends captured my happiness in a photo. Email Nolan or schedule an appointment. I chose to study in Madrid because I really wanted to improve my Spanish speaking ability which is really enhanced by committing to the language pledge and living with a host family.
Spain is also an amazing destination in general with so much to offer: delicious food, rich culture, deep history, and more! I wasn't expecting to explore Madrid as much as I did! In my architecture class we went to different buildings across the city, with my host family we would go to parks, and with my friends we would explore all the city has to offer!
Taking a lighter course load, I found myself having time after class to explore! The main academic benefit is that you get to take so many unique classes! As an engineering major, I don't get to explore the humanities as much but my time in Madrid allowed me to take a class on architecture and politics. This broadened my academic horizons, making me a better student and learner. After successfully completing the Madrid program, I am very open to the idea of living somewhere completely new, even if its in a different country!
I am much more open to new possibilities and adventures after studying abroad. The biggest cultural adjustment was adjusting to the meal times.
At school, I eat lunch at 12 and dinner at 6 every day. In Spain, I would eat lunch at 3 and dinner at 9 which took some getting used to my stomach would grumble all the time for the first few days!!! But you get adjusted real quick to the times and I honestly came to like it a lot! I really loved the flexibility and freedom living in a big city gave me - there are endless possibilities. Living in Madrid makes it easy to be spontaneous!
