Author: Matthew Shepard | Major: Computer Science | Semester: Summer 2024

The incredible Walls of Avila, Spain

I’ll never forget the feeling when I first landed in Spain. Before studying abroad in an exchange program in Madrid for the Spring semester of 2024, I had never left the United States  and now I would be living in Spain for the next six months.

Since high school, I had known that I had wanted to study abroad. To immerse myself in the history and culture of another country would be an immensely personally rewarding experience, while exploring the state of software engineering in another region would provide a new professional/academic perspective in an increasingly global field. Madrid, as one of the major technology and startup cities of the European Union and a central city in Spain, thus seemed like a perfect location for these goals. In the months leading up to my departure, the days seemed to go by slower and slower as excitement and anticipation built up. This just made it feel all the more surreal when I finally stepped out of the plane.

The first few weeks in Spain were a mix of nervousness, excitement and a bit of culture shock. On one hand everything felt different, from stores and grocery brands to the transportation system, and adjusting to these radical changes took some time. On the flip side of this, though, I found myself getting amazed and excited at every little thing as I explored the city that I would be living in for the spring. I would take pictures of every little alleyway and train station, and spend nearly every moment exploring a new corner of the city. One of the things that immediately made the greatest impact on me was the history. I am a major history buff, and I have spent countless hours binging history books and going through museums. So, the first time I turned a corner into a renaissance era palace, I was shocked. It was so incredible that such a distant piece of history was right there, just among the regular cityscape. Madrid itself was an amazing place to live during my time in Spain – full of hidden gems and an abundance of history, but not overwhelmingly touristy, making my daily life convenient as well. It was also well connected to the rest of Spain, which would make exploring my host country much easier. I am also an avid hiker and camper, and the mountains north of Madrid were well developed and connected to public transport, allowing me to easily indulge in these interests while abroad.

I also traveled often to many of the different regions and cities within Spain as well. Rather than staying on campus, I stayed in an apartment managed through one of the services recommended by UC3M near the Atocha train station, which allowed convenient travel both to/from campus and to the rest of Spain. Avila, the first location I visited, was a medieval city right outside Madrid. It was an incredible experience, exploring the well-preserved walls and visiting various museums that recounted the town’s history with the Moors and the reconquista. It was my first experience with the various historical small towns in Spain, and the history and atmosphere left an unforgettable impression on me. Within the same Castilla y Leon region, the town of Segovia was also an unforgettable experience, with Moorish, Roman, and Medieval architecture all meeting in the various monuments throughout the city. It is truly an awe-inspiring reveal as you first enter the town, finding a stunning Roman aqueduct running into a massive castle that connects to the old town, still surrounded by its medieval walls. Toledo was also a short distance from Madrid, offering a unique take on Spanish history as the former capital of the nation.

Personally, though, one of the most fascinating regions of Spain was the Andalucia region in the south of Spain. Granada, Seville, and Cordoba were both rich in Moorish and Medieval Spanish history, with unique architecture, stunning old towns, and beautiful pastel white neighborhoods stretching across the scenic, mountainous landscape.  Spain was also an incredible outlet to explore other countries, with a central position in respect to several nations that I wanted to visit, such as France, Italy, and Morocco. The city of Dijon in France was a particular highlight, with beautiful architecture, sprawling indoor and outdoor markets, and an overall friendly, homely feel throughout the city. Paris was another highlight – despite already researching and looking forward to the Louvre, the sheer scale of it still blew me away, one could easily occupy an entire weekend and still not fully appreciate the magnitude of the collection. Morocco was a country that I had been interested in visiting from the moment that my plans in Madrid were solidified, and it was a popular university break destination for other students too, allowing me to travel with a group of my classmates.

Our trip to Marrakech blew me away and remains one of my fondest memories during my time abroad. The people were all incredibly friendly and hospitable; with everyone we met being eager to provide us tips, information about Morocco and its culture, and even offering Moroccan tea. The Moroccan Cuisine was also incredible, and I find myself craving many of the various Couscous and tagine combinations that we tried to this day. In Italy, I was able to truly let out my inner history nerd as I explored the beautiful cities of Rome and Florence. In my head, I’d always imagined that Rome would consist mainly of highlights of Roman ruins that one had to seek out and tour, but this misconception was quickly shattered as I stepped out of the train. Instead, the entire city is almost one giant archeological site, with apartments being built into old aqueducts and walls that are over two thousand years old casually lining an off-the-path road. I have truly never seen any city like Rome, and my time there remains one of the most incredible moments of my trip. Florence, on the other hand, was more concentrated in renaissance era history. I lost track of how many stunning art museums and fresco-lined cathedrals I toured during my time there, but it offered such an interesting foil to the more ancient atmosphere of Rome. Visiting these countries and cities with the friends I made in Madrid was an incredibly rewarding experience, and I sincerely loved each city in its own way.  One of the highlights of my trip to Italy and a beautiful testament to the height of the Roman Empire was my visit to the Roman Forum.

While these experiences were incredibly personally rewarding, I’d also like to discuss the academic side of the program. Initially, I was very nervous about taking my high-level computer science classes in a foreign country, unsure of how the difference in language, culture, and grading systems would affect my experience. However, my professors were incredibly helpful during my time at UC3M and were consistently willing to work with us personally on difficult sections. I also met a network of other computer science studies at the university consisting of both other exchange students and domestic students. These classmates not only provided me with valuable insight into the unique challenges and differences of computer science at UC3M, but also into the global state of software engineering, valuable knowledge in a rapidly evolving international field such as computer science. In particular, it was interesting discovering how Language Learning Model Intelligences, which are a rapidly expanding form of artificial intelligence, are being developed and implemented throughout the Spanish and international technology industry. Furthermore, these classmates also provided me with information about various tech showcases and events of interest in Madrid, allowing me to explore the state of the technology field in my host city. Overall, from an academic and professional perspective, the program was even more than I had hoped, and the program has provided me with a unique insight into the international state of Computer Science while furthering my education in the field.

My time at UC3M was an incredibly valuable experience that has provided me with a deep sense of personal, academic, and professional growth. However, despite the unique financial advantages of an exchange program, my time in Madrid would still have been much more difficult to organize without the financial assistance provided by the Honors College at the University of Arkansas. I would like to sincerely thank the Honors College for making this invaluable opportunity possible. It has truly been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.