The center of Madrid, Sol, was
always buzzing with life and fun. From the street performers to the late night
adventures, Sol was the center of it all. The program provided an unlimited
Metro pass, which allowed us to ride the Metro all over Madrid without any problems
at all. I frequently visited Parque de Retiro, which was the most beautiful
park that I have ever seen, complete with rowboats, peacocks, a glass castle,
and tons of street vendors. The food was also great, extremely hearty and full
of freshness. The language barrier was hardly noticeable, which made life much
easier for those of us that were fluent enough to communicate effectively. I
did not experience any culture shock. I have traveled overseas before, but I
have never felt more at home than I did in Madrid. The seven-hour time
difference was a bit difficult, since I always wanted to Face Time my mom to
tell her everything. The thing I miss the most about Madrid, besides my
precious host family, is the assortment of delicious tapas, or appetizers, that
are always fresh and free when you buy a drink!
I also took two weekend trips with
some friends to Barcelona and Rome. Rome was just breathtaking. The history
that is there is just incredible. I went with a few other Walton Honors
students, and it was unforgettable. Barcelona was also beautiful. The
Mediterranean is unlike anything I have ever seen. The sand literally
glittered. My time spent there felt more like a dream, being on the ocean and
in a beautiful city was unforgettable.
All in all, my experience was
incredible, and I would choose it over and over again if I could. Spain is a
beautiful country, buzzing with life and passion. I fell in love with Madrid,
and I could not have imagined that my life would be so impacted by just one
short month. I feel more confident and fluent in my Spanish. I felt as though I
became a real Madrileña for a month, and those
are memories I will never let go.
