Hello from Alcalá de Henares, Spain! My name is Hailey Marrero, and I am a senior at the University of Pittsburgh. I am double majoring in History and Museum Studies, minoring in Spanish, and participating in a month-long study abroad program called Pitt in Spain. I will be finishing up my minor with the University of Alcalá, located in a truly beautiful medieval town just an hour’s train ride from Madrid and the birthplace of Miguel de Cervantes (author of Don Quixote!). This experience not only aligns well with my academic plan, but also gives me an opportunity to use Spanish outside the classroom. While I am not staying with a host family, I still get to use Spanish every day in the shops, restaurants, and streets of Alcalá and Madrid. After five days, I am already more confident in my speaking abilities!

My initial expectations upon arriving in Spain were that I would spend most of my time either studying outside and in small coffee shops, or touring the city and surrounding area. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of freedom, especially in the first few days. I did participate in guided tours of Alcalá and Madrid in the first two days after arriving, but outside of a few scheduled hours, the city has been ours to explore. With the friends I have made in the program so far, we have explored public transportation, the shopping and dining districts in Madrid, watched World Cup games, and visited art museums (as a Museum Studies major, I was absolutely astounded by the Prado Museum!). One thing that has surprised me so far has been the jet lag. Alcalá is six hours ahead of Pittsburgh, and the temptation to siesta like a local (i.e., close all businesses from 2 to 5 p.m. to eat lunch and take a nap) has been very strong. Nevertheless, we persevere!

My friends who have participated in global experiences have described their study abroad trips as some of the best experiences of their lives. I hope to gain similar memories, friendships, and perspective through my time in Spain. In the classroom, I hope to increase my fluency in Spanish and attain a unique understanding of Spanish culture and identity, such as can only be seen from within the country. Outside the classroom, I am stepping out of my comfort zone to travel, try new foods, and overall experience everything Spain has to offer. I am beyond excited to be in Alcalá de Henares for the next month! ¡Hasta luego!