Summer in Madrid!

This past summer, I took part in a 6 week study abroad program in Madrid, Spain. It was an unforgettable summer that I will never be able to stop talking about. To start off, I was so scared to travel alone. Although I have traveled far with my parents, taking on a new country on my own was frightening. IES, however, sent out detailed plans about how to prepare for the trip and what to do when arriving at the Madrid airport. I made my way through the entire departure and arrival with no problem thanks to them. The classes were challenging but manageable but only because I kept up with attendance and homework. My homestay situation was very nice, and I chose to live with a roommate, which made me feel so much more comfortable. I know a few students on my program who stayed in student apartments and loved it! Additionally, Madrid has one of the largest social scenes in the world, and we made sure to dip our toes into that as well! One of my favorite memories was during the celebration of the Madrid soccer team winning the champions league. The streets were packed with locals singing the team songs! During our IES orientation, the staff warned us about areas to avoid so that we would always remain safe. Me and my classmates formed such strong bonds with our teachers, and on the last day, everyone was so sad to leave. But, I've made connections that will stay with me forever, and I am so excited to encourage other students to have the same amazing experiences as I did.