Hi everyone! I’m writing to you from Madrid. I want to share my experience in this program so you can get a taste of what it’s like to study abroad in Madrid as an international student.
I’m a senior at The University of Texas at Austin, majoring in communication studies. Some of my academic interests are psychology, communications, early childhood development and philosophy.
My interests beyond school are running, music, creative writing, photography and anything related to nature and people. I love to be around people, to analyze them, understand them, care for them and study them — everything!
Anyway, that is me in a nutshell. Let’s go back to the studying abroad thing, and let me share more about my experience so far!
Studying Abroad as an International Student
My identity as an international student has become a part of who I am while studying abroad. If you are considering studying abroad, remember that you are young, you are a student and you are living somewhere else for just a couple of months. Time is a determining factor in how much you get out of this opportunity.
I had to plan carefully to make sure I got what I wanted from this experience: the classes I wanted to take, the program that suited me best, the places I wanted to visit, how I wanted to spend my free time and some personal goals throughout the semester.
I also thought about how I wanted to expose myself to new experiences. Being new to a place can be challenging, as you are constantly out of your comfort zone.
However, in my case, I’ve found this to be the greatest takeaway or growth experience from moving abroad. I’ve found my way through the metro stations, made new friends and indulged in a new culture.
What Madrid Has to Offer
I am doing this exchange program with the Comillas Pontifical University. More specifically, I’m at the campus of social sciences and humanities, which happens to be located slightly outside the city where the main campus is. This university is relatively small compared to UT Austin. Most of my classes have around 25 people, and each lasts either one or two hours.
Students here move from one class to another as a group, all belonging to the same major. As an international student, I jump around between classes, since the degree plans and credits work differently for me. I have also found that professors here have a closer relationship with students and communication is more casual.
The academic expectations also differ in how students are evaluated and the methods of teaching; there is a lot of group work, and you are constantly learning in more practical and less theoretical ways. I also took advantage of the fact that they speak my native language and was able to take some classes in Spanish, which I have enjoyed.
Apart from my academic experience, living in Madrid has been a game-changer. I chose this city because it suited my lifestyle: It is a safe and friendly city; it is accessible (being the capital of Spain); the culture is fascinating; and there are endless things to do. And coming from the U.S., you might find it surprising how differently the government and public services work.
Most people here use bikes and public transportation such as the metro, city buses and trains that go in and out of the city. Having people on the street all the time makes the street culture very inviting, and I was amazed to see people out and about at all times of day.
Running errands here is also unique since you must look for items in niche stores (there aren’t many big grocery stores or department stores in Madrid). For a cultural experience, you can go to museums, flamenco shows, culinary experiences and small towns to learn about Spanish customs. I enjoy every aspect of this city, and will miss it when I leave!
Advantages of Texas Global
Moving here through a student exchange program was a huge advantage for me. Not only did the exchange program give me a formal purpose to move here, but Texas Global made this experience feel within reach.
Once in Madrid, and even before I arrived, I felt well prepared and knew what to expect. It can seem overwhelming at first to fulfill the requirements, apply for a visa (if necessary), get the right insurance plan, etc., but once you get to your destination, it becomes entirely worth it!
The resources that Texas Global gave me also made it easy to connect with people and find groups of international students with whom I can play sports, explore the city, organize trips and create a small community.
I hope that what I shared in this short blog post encourages you to consider this opportunity or at least be aware that it’s within your reach!
Remember where it starts and choose where to change the world!
Your Longhorn friend in Madrid,
Andrea
This post was contributed by Andrea Guerrero, a Global Ambassador for Fall 2024. Andrea is a senior studying abroad in Madrid, Spain.
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