Author: Nathan Jung | Major: Biochemistry and Economics | Semester: Summer 2024

Visiting the Plaza Mayor The

The study abroad program through which I traveled and studied was API Abroad. I chose API because they
were the only ones to offer my ideal combination of courses, duration, location, and accommodations for
my food allergies.
The process of finding a study abroad program was particularly difficult for me because of my
life-threatening anaphylactic food allergies. I had to find a location with strict ingredient labeling laws,
reliable hospitals, and an abundance of grocery stores. I also had to find a program that would provide the
appropriate accommodations, including a private apartment with a kitchen. Once I arrived in Madrid and
met with my program director, I knew I picked the right program. It was almost like they were trained to
accommodate students with food allergies. I never had any allergy-related issues or scares and was very
comfortable throughout the entire duration of the program. API provided me with a large private
apartment in the heart of the city, with an abundance of large grocery stores in extremely close proximity.
I was able to cook full meals for myself every day in Madrid, never once going hungry.
Moving on to the experience itself, this was truly one of the most enriching and enjoyable experiences of
my entire life. I had never traveled outside of the United States before, so I felt completely like a fish out
of water for my first few days. Slowly but surely though, I became more comfortable and Madrid started
to feel more like home. I went from needing Google Maps to walk a couple blocks down the street to
navigating the subway system by myself and without my phone. My Spanish went from stuttering and
mispronouncing at the checkout register to being able to hold an hour long conversation with a local.
The experience of being totally immersed in the Spanish language vastly improved my conversational
skills. Having taken four semesters of Spanish classes thus far at the U of A, I was already equipped with
enough knowledge to hold conversations. However, like most other students at my level, I was lacking the
confidence to converse due to lack of real-world experience and utilization. My immersive experience in
Spain gave me that confidence. In the two weeks that I have been back, I have seen how I am extremely
more confident speaking Spanish to patients at my job as an ER Tech than I was before. My classes at
Universidad Nebrija were all completely in Spanish, which intimidated me at first. However, my listening
comprehension skills vastly improved as a result, and I was understanding 90% or more of what my
professors were saying within the first two weeks of classes. Although many of the locals in Madrid can
speak English, most were willing to speak Spanish to international students wanting to practice. I was
proud of myself for not resorting to English whenever I got uncomfortable and for making the effort to
use my Spanish wherever I went. I truly believe that this effort is what allowed my Spanish to improve as
much as it did.
In addition to taking classes at Universidad Nebrija and working on my Spanish, I was able to explore the
city of Madrid and experience the culture of Spain. Almost everything was different, from the traffic
signage to the subway system. I got to explore all of the famous sightseeing spots, visit one of the city’s
famous art museums, tour the Santiago Bernabéu stadium, and go to the Parque Warner amusement park
on the outskirts of Madrid (which I would highly recommend for thrill seekers). My favorite experience
was the bike tour around Madrid, where we got to fly down the streets and see the Casa de Campo,
Templo de Debod, Parque de Oeste, and the Royal Palace. I also loved touring the Royal Palace; its
grandeur was unlike anything I had seen before. I also got to visit other cities throughout Spain on
weekend excursions, including Barcelona, Valencia, Toledo, and Zaragoza. My favorite places to visit on
the weekend excursions were the cathedrals. Seeing the ancient detailed architecture and the beautiful
artwork inside never failed to amaze me. I truly felt like I maximized my time in Spain and got the best
experience possible.
Overall, this experience surpassed even my highest expectations. I never thought I would make so many
close friends or have as much fun as I did. I feel so blessed to have met so many amazing people and to
have built such strong relationships. Every day brought a new level of excitement and laughter. I know I
will have the memories from this experience for the rest of my life. On a personal level, I grew way more
than I ever could have imagined. I gained a whole new level of independence, learning how to live in a
foreign country by myself, how to navigate public transportation in a major city, and immersing myself in
a foreign language. To anyone who is considering studying abroad in Madrid for the summer, I cannot
recommend it enough. It truly changed my life and left me with an abundance of lifelong memories and
friendships.