I’ve just finished my first week of classes at UC3M, and it’s different from taking classes at A&M. It seems to be centered around a presentation during the semester and a final exam worth almost half of your grade. It doesn’t look like it will keep me too busy with work that is due, but there is a lot of required reading and information to keep up with throughout the semester. It is more independent learning than at A&M. The Getafe Campus, where the business school is located, is 5 miles south of the center of Madrid, so it takes around 40 minutes to get there from the city. The city itself is amazing. There is a ton to do, from walking through art museums to hopping around different tapas restaurants. The people are very relaxed, and most in the service industry know enough English to meet you in the middle. The public transportation system has an underground rail system, buses, and a commuter train system. You can get anywhere in the city in under 30 minutes. When I got dropped in Spain, I realized I knew a lot more Spanish than I thought I did, but I still have some serious work to do. I am looking forward to the next couple of months. Even after just one week, I can already feel myself growing more confident and independent. Navigating a new academic system, commuting across the city, and communicating in a second language have all pushed me outside my comfort zone in the best way. Each day brings a new challenge—whether it’s understanding a lecture in Spanish or figuring out the best metro route—and with each one, I feel more capable and self-assured. This experience is already shaping me into a more adaptable and globally minded student, and I’m excited to see how much more I’ll grow in the months ahead.
