I really enjoyed my time in Madrid. This was my first time in Europe, and it did not disappoint. Whether it was the people or the places, they all made this trip eventful and a lifelong memory.
Before I left, I honestly didn't know what to expect. I had heard stories from friends who studied abroad, but nothing quite prepares you for actually living in a new country, navigating a different culture, and figuring out how to get around a city you've never seen before. Madrid welcomed me in a way I didn't anticipate. The city has this incredible rhythm to it: long, slow dinners that start late in the evening, a plaza on nearly every corner where people gather just to talk, and a pace of life that somehow feels both relaxed and full of energy at the same time. I quickly fell into that rhythm myself, and by the end of the program it felt less like a place I was visiting and more like a place I had actually lived.
What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
If I had to pick the most surprising part of the whole trip, it would easily be the weekend a group of us traveled to Pamplona for San Fermin. Seeing the running of the bulls in person, and being surrounded by a tradition that's been passed down for centuries, was unlike anything I had ever witnessed. The energy in the streets, the history behind the festival, and the sheer scale of the celebration made it a moment I'll be talking about for years.
What other participants should know
- Housing was rough sometimes
- language barrier
- missing friends and home