The first thing that surprised me when I landed in Madrid-Barajas Airport was that people in Spain don’t speak much English. I guess I always knew that, but I never gave much thought to it.
Exhausted from the 12-hour flight and eager to meet my host family, I got an Uber from the airport. As I got in the car, I said to the driver: “Hello! Do you speak English?” “Buenas! No hablo ingles,” was the answer that I received, paired with an apologetic look. I tried to form a sentence with a few words in Spanish that I knew, but I felt that the driver was even more confused after what I said. At that moment, I regretted not listening to my friends when they said I should practice my Spanish before coming to Spain.
When I met my host family, I learned that my host mom didn’t speak English either. Although that made our communication harder, deep inside I was glad that I am now in a completely new environment immersed in Spanish language and lifestyle. After all, that’s exactly why I decided to study abroad.
Almudena Cathedral
My first week in Madrid was rainy, yet very enjoyable. Even though the skies were gray and the streets glistened with rain, Madrid’s charm was undeniable. During that week, I explored the city with other WorldStrides students. What do I think about Madrid? It’s amazing. Madrid exceeded all my expectations. As we were admiring the magnificent cathedral across from the royal palace, my jaw dropped when our guide said that this cathedral is considered ugly according to Spanish standards. That’s how beautiful Madrid is.
Beyond its stunning architecture, another aspect of Madrid—and studying abroad in general—that has amazed me is the people I’ve met. One of the valuable realizations that I have so far, and I know that a lot of the other study abroad students would agree with me, is that you’re gonna meet so many people across different life paths and backgrounds. I would recommend everyone to talk to those strangers that you meet along your life journey.
Just last week, during a wine-tasting tour, I met a retired French gentleman who led the cybersecurity department of the UN for more than 30 years. Over a glass of wine, he shared how one should prioritize meaningful work over simply chasing money, backing it up with his vast experience.
Another time, I met a German couple from Stuttgart, and we came to find out that we had common acquaintances and friends. They recommended a few places for me to visit when I go to Germany and the local cuisine that I must check out. These kinds of interactions can be brief yet valuable and can be obtained when you choose to socialize outside of your friend group.
These are just some of the many things that I have noted so far. Studying abroad is both humbling and rewarding—an opportunity to learn, grow, and embrace the world’s diversity. And that, I believe, is its true beauty. Until next time, ¡adiós!