What an unforgettable four and a half months studying abroad
at La Universidad de Carlos III de Madrid! It was an extraordinary adventure jam-packed
with unique experiences: meeting exchange students from all corners of the globe,
relishing the electric nightlife, learning foreign languages, enjoying complete
independence, passionately cheering during fútbol games, late nights studying and early mornings travelling.
I made it through
finals week without a hitch and arrived in Baltimore yesterday to start my
summer internship. It felt amazing to be back in America when I drove my car on
the smooth open roads, stopped at a plaza with a Subway and Ruby Tuesday’s, and
marveled at the prices and variety of products at Dick’s Sporting Goods. It’s
good to be home.
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| DESPEDIDA PARTY: An emotional night of reminiscing with great friends from across the world |
I threw a going-away
party for myself and delighted in the opportunity to share laughs with my
international buddies for the last time. Saying adiós at the end of the night was heart-wrenching and I wasn’t
prepared for the overwhelming emotions: joy for having developed such
meaningful relationships and despair for having to part ways. The study abroad
experience was very socially fulfilling because I spent so much time alongside
my friends eating, studying, travelling, fighting, laughing- we practically
lived together. It’s an odd feeling to cry and smile at the same time when I
think back on the late-night bus rides home from Madrid, singing and laughing
like there was no tomorrow. I truly came to love my friends and it’s agonizing
to imagine a future without them.
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| ESN: A flag with notes from international buddies. Tomek (POL) and Matt (AUS) were two of the funniest guys I've ever met and were among my most trusted friends. |
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| TRAIN STATION GOODBYE: Gabriel became one of my best friends and was my travel buddy in Greece. I plan to visit him in Puerto Rico for a personalized tour of the bioluminescent bays. |
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| INTERNATIONAL LOVE: It was impossible to feel homesick when my heart belonged to Mariana, my girlfriend from Torreón, México. |
Here’s a list of tips I wish someone had given me prior to
studying abroad at Carlos III in Madrid:
- Buy the monthly abono transport pass as soon as you can.
- Avoid classes that are notoriously difficult by asking older Spanish students for advice the first week you arrive. Even though you pick classes with your advisor beforehand, you must be flexible during registration or you will get stuck with attending Friday evening classes and doing weekly homework assignments while your friends party with Messi in Barcelona.
- Never miss a social outing at El Tigre, Cien Montaditos, or Museo de Jamón.
- Be the first ones at the nightclub or you’ll spend an hour waiting in line.
- Plane tickets are a lot more expensive on Fridays and Sundays, so crafting a schedule that allows long weekends will go a long way to saving money on travel.
- Don’t think that partying is the only way to make friends. I was a lot closer to the people I played soccer and ate pizza with than I was with those who didn’t show up to the afternoon picnic but were always gun-ho to go out clubbing.
- Even though it’s tough to swallow the fact that your girlfriend has liked every picture on Cristiano Ronaldo’s Instagram account, be a fan of Real Madrid. Definitely go to one of their games, even if you have to watch from the nosebleeds. Atlético will only break your heart.
- Take business classes in Spanish no matter how weak you think your skills are. You only need a 5 out of 10 to pass and the professors are understanding of the potential language barrier. Plus, a lot of them did their Master’s degree in America, so they’ll give you a high five for representing the USA.
- Buy an unlocked smart phone and load it with credit when you arrive (use Vodafone or Orange). It’s essential for contacting new friends and planning social outings- the best investment you can make in your social life.
- Join ESN and attend all the events they have planned. It’s the fastest way to make friends and offers great trips for reasonable prices.
- Make an effort to learn the local slang. I had to endure endless teasing in the cafeteria for my Latin American vocabulary, which could have been easily avoided by preparing ahead of time.
- Live it up! You’ll never get the same chance to meet people from so many cultures while having unlimited free time to invest in developing relationships with them and absorbing all they know.
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| HASTA LA VISTA: Thank you to the USC IB program for this wondrous, life-changing experience! |
