Author: Emma Graham | Major: International Business Management | Semester: Summer 2024

The view from our residence, Palacio de Barradas, was a dream! We were able to see the unique architectural styles that make up Madrid right from our balcony.

This past June, I had the amazing opportunity to study abroad in the vibrant city of Madrid, Spain. Even before declaring my major as International Business, I knew that studying abroad in Spain would be a goal of mine during my college career. I have studied Spanish since the seventh grade, and I have been enthralled by Hispanic culture since I was very young. In my early teenage years, my family and I traveled to Spain for over two weeks and after getting a taste of the Spanish culture, food, and environment, I knew this country would play a big role in my life. Choosing to study in Madrid was simple for me as I wanted to be in the heart of Spain, and I have several family friends that live there. Starting in late May, I spent a month studying in Madrid fulfilling the Summer 1 session of my program. Through API, Academic Programs International, I was able to attend Universidad de Antonio Nebrija to learn more about Spanish language, culture, and literature. Studying at Nebrija was a unique and eye-opening experience, from the passionate professors to the inclusive environment, and even to the city-centered campus. I truly felt welcomed there, as I was amazed at how caring my professors were from helping me with simple vocabulary in class to having conversations with me outside of class for practice. They helped mold my experience into one that progressed my knowledge of every aspect of life in Spain. One of the particular moments that stood out to me throughout my time at Nebrija was my first big project in my panorama of Spanish literature class. We were to connect a work of Spanish literature from the Middle Ages to a current song, provide a detailed justification, and present our findings. I had never given a seven-minute presentation in Spanish before and it was only the second week of class which fueled my nerves tremendously. I remember feeling very accomplished after finishing, and very satisfied with the work I had displayed. While it was a very nerve-racking experience, I learned a lot from preparing and speaking about such a unique topic in Spanish.

Through API, I met a group of amazing students from all over the United States. In such a short period of time, we all found great friendships within one another that I feel will be lifelong. I am so grateful for them as they pushed me to live outside of my comfort zone, which led me to discover confidence, openness, and sociableness about myself. In Madrid, we tried countless new things like learning flamenco and bachata, which are Spanish and Dominican types of dances. Through our university, we were able to attend a wine tasting event where we learned all about different Spanish wines and their food pairings. Through our program, we took part in a bike tour around Madrid, tried churros and chocolate at Madrid’s most famous Chocolateria, sang karaoke with our site coordinators, and ate at delectable Spanish restaurants where I tried foods such as croquettes, Spanish tortilla, paella, and more! Outside of Madrid, our program took us on a day trip to the ancient city of Toledo, whose architectural beauty and unique landscape are historical landmarks of Spain. Toledo sparked my interest immensely, as its countless religious sites and antiquated city-streets were powerful reminders of the country’s rich culture. To add, we visited Toledo at the tail-end of the religious Corpus Christi festival, so the streets were still lively, decorated with fresh flowers, tapestries, flags, and incense holders. It was truly a sight to see and one of my favorite moments of my trip. One weekend, a few of us visited Segovia which is a town near to Madrid. Segovia was beautiful and contained many monuments that I had learned about in my classes, so it was amazing to be able to connect the history back to their original landmarks. On our last weekend, a large group of us visited Valencia where we went to the beach, ate lots of paella, and walked around the city center. Valencia was beautiful and it was great to see the beach and the Mediterranean Sea in person.

I encourage anyone who wants to study or work abroad to do so! It was truly a one-of-a-kind experience, and while I learned a lot of academic content, I also learned a lot more about myself and the person that I want to be in the future. As for preparing for a study abroad trip, I suggest students get familiar with the cultural norms in a country before they visit, as they can be very different from the US and some actions, though in good conscience, can come off negatively when abroad. Lastly, I advise students to put themselves out there, talk to all of the people in your program, network with your professors and other faculty, and create new relationships with the locals around you, because it will pay off! I am blessed to have been given the opportunity to study abroad, and I will take this experience with me well into the future.