Author: Evan Meyers | Major: Computer Science and Spanish | Semester: Spring 2025

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My name is Evan Meyers and I am a junior in the University of Arkansas Honors College and the College of Engineering. I am pursuing majors in Computer Science and Spanish with a minor in Mathematics. I am studying abroad through the Universidad Nebrija Direct Enrollment program at the University of Arkansas, where I am taking Spanish courses in Madrid, Spain. I have been interested in studying abroad since I was in high school due to my desire to experience and learn from other cultures around the world. Since I am double majoring in Spanish, Madrid became my destination of interest. I arrived here at the beginning of January 2025 and will be here until mid-to-late June this summer. For the past month, I have been taking classes during Nebrija’s intersession period. The classes I am taking revolve around Spanish grammar and Spain’s culture and history. Through these two classes, I have already learned a lot about Spain and have improved my Spanish skills immensely. These classes have taught me more than I could have learned on campus at the University of Arkansas. Part of the reason for this is that the professors here are native to Madrid and are able to teach me much more about Spanish customs and colloquial phrases than was possible in Arkansas. Through my classes, I have been making a lot of friends who are from all over the world, including students from Europe, South America, and Asia. This past month, I explored many different places with my friend group and experienced a lot of the culture that Madrid has to offer. For example, last weekend we visited Alcalá de Henares, the birthplace of Miguel de Cervantes, author of the historically significant novel Don Quijote de la Mancha. A major hobby of mine is photography and Spain has provided me with an endless supply of subject matter. While here, I have captured some of my all-time favorite photos, and I feel that my photography skills are continuing to improve. I also visited several famous museums and other culturally significant locations such as the Museo Reina Sofía, Museo del Prado, and El Palacio Real, where I saw works by Picasso and Velázquez and learned about the lifestyle of previous Spanish kings and queens. Exploring these sites has expanded my knowledge of world-renowned art and Spain’s rich culture. One piece of advice I have for students considering studying abroad is that the challenges of getting here are worth it in the end. Throughout my experience applying for my program and traveling to Spain, I faced more obstacles and stress than ever before. These challenges made me second-guess my decision to study abroad, as they took a significant toll on my mental health. Now that I am here, I can confidently say that I would do it all again. I am still in the early stages of my time here, yet I already feel that I have grown for the better. The struggle is worth it and will pay off.