Author: Andrew Stevenson | Major: International Business | Semester: Summer 2024
Myself alongside Mar’Quavis Stuckett, another student from the U of A, overlooking the city of Toledo, Spain
My study abroad this summer took place in Madrid, Spain, lasting four weeks. To complete my Spanish minor, my study abroad program had to be taken in a Spanish speaking country. However, what sparked my interest of Madrid over a Latin American city was my prior experience of the country along with my desire to experience a new city. While I had previously been to Spain, I had never traveled to Madrid, providing an opportunity to experience a completely different view of the country within its capital. In the months leading up to my time abroad, I did have some concerns of having a somewhat similar experience compared to my previous trip in Spain. However, after completing my time abroad, I can confidently say that my time in Madrid was in no way similar to my previous time in Spain, giving me an entirely new experience to remember.
My academic experiences took place at University Nebrija, where I studied advanced grammar and panoramic Spanish literature. What stood out to me the most while taking these courses was the way the courses were conducted and viewed. Specifically, both courses truly focused on the aspects of learning and discussion, without any major emphasis on daily homework or tests. While a lack of homework and tests could have made these courses appear easier, constant discussion and learning through multiple channels allowed me to learn at a constant rate, similar to those at the University of Arkansas. I truly feel that my language skills in Spanish improved drastically throughout the course of this trip, in part due to this approach of both courses.
While there are countless amounts of moments that stand at the forefront of my time abroad, I would say that the most enjoyable moments for me were all the times spent with my friends throughout the entirety of the trip. While I of course enjoyed the many attractions of Madrid, I can always replicate them next time I visit, which I cannot do with all the conversations and times spent with friends.
What surprised me the most during this experience was the number of people I met and formed relationships with, including those that also attend the University of Arkansas. One of my main concerns prior to this study abroad trip was making friends with the goal of creating a more enjoyable experience while I was abroad for four weeks. However, the exact opposite of what I expected occurred, which made my time abroad exponentially more enjoyable. Due to this time abroad, I have hopefully created many long-term relationships that can benefit me for years to come.
One piece of advice that I would give to a student studying abroad is the balance between experience and academics. While I tried my hardest to experience as much as the city had to offer, I still feel that I spent too much time focusing on academics at the expense of experiencing more. While I certainly do not regret putting in so much effort into my courses, I do feel that I experienced less than others as I decided to do homework or study for a test when others were experiencing. If a student is extremely academic focused, I would highly recommend that they put forth great effort to not miss out on experiences due to the academic side of studying abroad. Even though academics are very important, I believe that the other side of studying abroad is even more important.