Hello! My name is Adeline and I am a rising senior at the University of Pittsburgh majoring in economics with a minor in political science and a Global Studies Certificate. This spring semester I studied abroad in Madrid, Spain, and alongside my first semester freshman year, I would consider it a period in which I experienced the most personal and academic growth.
Ever since middle school, I knew I wanted to spend a semester living and studying in a foreign country and even began saving money from summer jobs to help make it possible. Although I have traveled outside of the U.S. before, these trips were never longer than a month so I was eager to experience an extended stay abroad and immerse myself in a culture that wasn’t my own. Five months later, I can happily say I built a life in Madrid, navigated unfamiliar systems, and created lifelong memories.
I chose to study in Spain because Spanish culture fascinates me. Not only is it incredibly vibrant, but it also has rich regional diversity across its autonomous communities, such as the Basque Country, Andalucía and Galicia. Learning about their distinct identities in the classroom, participating in cultural festivities, and traveling to different cities across Spain over several months gave me a deeper understanding and appreciation of the diversity than I had before I arrived. After much deliberation, I chose Madrid as my host city to experience its blend of tradition and modernity, its abundance of parks and museums, excellent public transportation and central location as a base to explore the rest of the country.
Although I grew up speaking Spanish at home, I wanted to improve my grammar and writing skills and take courses taught entirely in Spanish. International Studies Abroad (ISA), a Pitt-recognized provider, offers a variety of courses through Madrid’s Universidad de Nebrija. I chose this program because it allowed me to focus on Spanish writing, fulfill general education requirements, and take classes with students from all over Europe, Asia, and the Americas. I loved being with a diverse group of students and learned so much in conversations with them about their lives in their respective home countries. Through my courses, conversations with locals and my host family, I grew much more confident in my Spanish language fluency.
Prior to my arrival I did not know anyone in the ISA program or in Madrid. While moving to a foreign country alone for five months might sound daunting, I saw it as an exciting personal challenge, especially since I am interested in working internationally after graduation. It gave me the chance to see how I could adjust, build community, and create a life for myself in a new place. I formed meaningful connections with people from around the world, which made saying goodbye to Madrid very difficult. I proved to myself that I could not only adapt to, but also thrive in an unfamiliar setting, which has made me more confident for my academic and professional future.
One of my study abroad advisors said that once you start traveling you will never feel at home in one place ever again because every place will hold a piece of home for you. Now at the end of my time in Spain, I can say I heartily agree with this statement.
