Teide National Park in Tenerife, Spain

After months of preparation, on January 22, 2024, I stepped off the plane at Madrid Barajas Airport immediately immersed in the Spanish language. Having taken Spanish courses since sixth grade, Spain was always a place I had wanted to visit, thus naturally it was the location I chose to study abroad. As I quickly was forced to put my speaking to the test on the metro system, I wondered what the next four months would bring.

One of the big culture shocks I experienced was the class structure. Each course I was enrolled in required two separate two-hour classes each week with almost all my grade based on exams in each course. My courses were all taught in English; however, there was a mix of Spanish students as well as international students in each course. The ability to interact with so many Spanish students daily was an amazing part of my experience as I was able to befriend many of the students and can keep in contact with them.

Outside of class, traveling is another way I gained an education while abroad. Through trips to five other countries and over twelve cities, I was able to immerse myself in the culture of many different countries. One of the most eye-opening experiences was my trip to Italy. While in Rome, I was able to see monuments such as the Pantheon, Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, and the Vatican City. In addition, I could see buildings over 1000 years old and experience the rich culture behind the city. Furthermore, I was able to visit Pompeii where I experienced the ruins of the city and learned about the history before and after Vesuvius’ eruption.

I also was able to travel throughout Spain, taking day trips to small cities near Madrid, and larger trips to Sevilla, Barcelona, and the Canary Islands. While all being parts in Spain, each location had a distinct vibe and culture. One of the things I most enjoyed was being able to practice speaking Spanish with the locals and creating bonds with random strangers. The Spanish people are known for their friendliness and laid-back lifestyle, and this proved to be true in each city I visited. The moment that stuck out most for me was on my last trip abroad to Tenerife. Tenerife is a Spanish territory located in the Canary Islands off the western coast of Africa. Visiting this beautiful place with the five closest friends I met while abroad was one of the most touching experiences. The most memorable being on a stargazing tour where we went to Teide National Park and experienced a sunset and stargazing some 10000ft (about 3.05 km) above sea level. Without a doubt the most beautiful sight I’ve seen in my life really encapsulated my entire trip spent abroad and reminded me of what an amazing and cool experience I had.

Perhaps the most valuable lesson I learned while in Spain was to live in the moment. The Spanish culture is about relaxing, enjoying life, and spending time with those you care about. An example of this is the dining culture. Most people don’t eat dinner until around 8:30-9pm, some even later. And after meals everyone participates in a “sobremesa”, essentially an after meal talk at the table. When going to a restaurant it is common to stay for three to four hours just to visit and talk with friends and family. Another example of this culture is seen by walking. Public transportation in Madrid is used by most people to commute to work and school, but many people will walk to places if possible. The Spanish people enjoy walking slow and enjoying the weather and conversing with others. The Spanish culture is all about promoting happiness and encouraging socialness among all people. I feel as an individual, I have become more relaxed and have begun to make the most of life, not stressing about things that I cannot necessarily control. Overall, I feel my experience abroad has positively impacted me as an individual and I know I have made memories to last a lifetime and experienced things I otherwise never would have. I can confidently say studying abroad was the best decision I have made thus far in my life and would recommend this experience to everyone.