My first few days in Madrid were overwhelming. The towering buildings, foreign language, and abrupt change in culture were more than I had expected. Right outside my door was one of the busiest streets in Madrid. Thousands of people were walking to their jobs, on vacation, seeing their friends, going to shop, and living their lives. It felt like I was watching life go by. I felt lost.
It wasn’t overnight that I adapted to the city, but I feel more at home now than ever anywhere else. The streets are filled with people. The architecture is stunning. The parks are blossoming with life. The initial regret of doing a study abroad subsided into a mix of thankfulness and appreciation to the environment around me. One of my favorite things about Madrid is the art. From the architecture of everyday buildings like McDonalds to the person playing violin in Retiro Park and the graffiti on the trains to school, there is so much beauty surrounding me at all times. I love how full of life the city is.
UC3M is truly a wonderful school. Around the same size as West Campus, it’s nothing like the school that I’m used to, but the international presence is evident. There are so many people willing to be friends, and I love the different mixes of my classes. In one class, I am with all native UC3m students, and in the next, I’m with only Erasmus and International students.
Overall, there are many cultural differences between Madrid and Texas. The public transport system has been both a blessing and a curse. I love how accessible it is to move around the city, but I miss my 2 AM karaoke sessions. The time in Madrid is so different. Classes start later, we have later eating times, people are in less of a rush, and so much more. There is so much more walking in all of Europe, and I’ve seen a difference in my fitness and energy levels since being here.
Madrid has become a place that I love. This study abroad has already become one of the best experiences of my life and the best decision I have ever made. Adjustment was hard, but I’ve learned so much about myself, who I am, and the world in just a few short weeks. I am forever changed by this experience, and I have so much more to go.
